[[email protected]]

We stopped in the Volvo stand today and were granted an interview with the head of developement on the R cars. It's VERY in depth (lasted about an hour) and it provided me with a bunch more info than we had before. I'm going to go over what I can remember now, and I'll be posting all of it in interview format very soon.<p>First, the Rs use a more aggressive Haldex program that can allow up to 70% to go to the rear wheels.<p>The transmission is an all new design. This six speed may look like the typical 5spd Spaceball, but it's different. It's set for higher torque rating, closer ratios, and shorter shift throws (both side to side and front to back).<p>The brakes are crazy. I can't remember the wear details, but I do remember him saying that at the recent press event at Paul Riccard Raceway in France, they brought a lot of extra brake pads etc. that went unused. They ran them all day by reporters and the brakes were fine.... no fade.<p>Rickard Rydell did give some input to the car's setup, as did some others. They tested the car at Anderstorp (with a chicane set up on the longest straight) to slow top speed in that section. I believe he said that the R and the M3 lapped it with the same best time. They also played with a '78 242 flathood that's raceprepped and run in a hobbyist's endurance series there (run by Volvo employees) and that nudged them both out (go 240! <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emwink.gif" BORDER="0"> ).<p>The Atacama leather is only in the orange. The other two leather colors are beige and the dark blue (almost black he said). The seats are the same between all of them (only the leather hide differs).<p>18" wheels will not be offered as an option on the V70. That's mainly because they believe V70 drivers won't need them. Mainly, the most hardcore owners will order them, and if you read between the lines, they don't want cars out there ordered with the wheels and customers not realizing what they are getting into.<p>The new big brakes mean that 17" is as small as you can go on the Rs. Further, it's an even more aggressive offset than the S80/V70/S60, meaning other Volvo alloys (even 17s) may not fit, and R wheels may need spacers if you want to run them on your standard FWD or AWD Volvo.<p>Interestingly, the V70R on the stand has 18s on it.<p>That's about all for now. I'll do my best to get this interview up ASAP (possibly this week).

 

[Volvo Grrrr]

Re: More R Info from NAIAS 2003 ([email protected])

Great work George! <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emthup.gif" BORDER="0"><p>Did you ask him about the GT at all? I did notice on the US site they list both of them being able to handle the 298lb.-ft torque while other sites say the GT is good for 258lb.-ft torque. <p>Aren't the brakes 13", 4pot Brembo's?<p>Now we know what interior colors there are. I'll take a Titanium silver with the dark blue please. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emthup.gif" BORDER="0"><p>Regarding the 18's, would it be possible to buy them after the sale? I know there are some folks here that know what they are getting into. Personally I'll stick with the 17's due to the roads here in Beantown.<p>RJ

 

[omega6_virus]

Re: More R Info from NAIAS 2003 (B518T)

Why not 17's and 18's? It may seem like overkill, but ever since we found an extra set of 940 wheels, it's made switching between snow and summer tires a breeze.

 

[T.Rex]

Re: More R Info from NAIAS 2003 (B518T)

I think not making the 18"s available on the V70R is a mistake. I wanted them. Let people have the choice, like they do on the S60R. I doubt the typical grocery getters and soccer moms would be buying the 'R' model V70 anyway. And even if they did, they'd have to make a conscious decision and cough up an extra thousand dollars to get the allegedly delicate 18" wheels.<p>Ironically, living here in the midwest I've only bent one wheel on a car. That's a 16" on my current '99 Beetle. I've had 18"s on an E36 BMW M3 and 17"s on a '94 Abt Jetta GLX without any bent wheels. I guess the moral of this story is that if you hit the monster pothole, it'll bend any size of wheel/tire combo. And I would dare anyone with today's stiff chassis and tire sidewalls (which rightfully forces the suspension to do all the work of controlling the ride quality) to tell the difference between a 235/45/17 and a 235/40/18 in straight line ride softness. The difference is that the less compliant sidewalls of the 18"s will be superior for cornering maneuvers. Just the sort of thing an 'R' car is designed for.

 

[GrecianVolvo]

Re: More R Info from NAIAS 2003 (T.Rex)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>I think not making the 18"s available on the V70R is a mistake. I wanted them. Let people have the choice, like they do on the S60R. I doubt the typical grocery getters and soccer moms would be buying the 'R' model V70 anyway. And even if they did, they'd have to make a conscious decision and cough up an extra thousand dollars to get the allegedly delicate 18" wheels.<p><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><p>Although I agree with you, it is ironic that the two V70 R deposits that we have received (so far) are from two...women who are definitely MOMS! I do believe that the V70R will have a fairly large female demographic whereas the S60R will be strictly male.<p>Yannis

 

[Volvo Grrrr]

Re: More R Info from NAIAS 2003 (GrecianVolvo)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Although I agree with you, it is ironic that the two V70 R deposits that we have received (so far) are from two...women who are definitely MOMS! I do believe that the V70R will have a fairly large female demographic whereas the S60R will be strictly male.<p>Yannis<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><p>Heh, I'll change that demographic. 26 y/o single male buying a V70R. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emwink.gif" BORDER="0"><p>RJ

 

[T.Rex]

Re: More R Info from NAIAS 2003 (GrecianVolvo)

Remember, I used the word "typical" with grocery getters and soccer moms. If they are buying V70Rs, I'm pretty sure something as tame as an 18" wheel would be within their realm of understanding. Plus, it's hard to feel sorry for someone who would spend $1000 on an option sheet for something they aren't aware of. <p>I doubt that anyone will get a noticably softer ride or better wheel protection from a 17" wheel/45% aspect ratio tire combination. I predict Volvo will see just as many bent 17"ers as 18"ers. If your environment resembles the surface of the moon and it's impossible to drive around "the big ones", you should probably consider a 15" or 16" wheel/tire combo for real protection. That would eliminate the new 'R' cars since those wheels wouldn't fit around the brakes, but hey these "R" performance cars after all. <p>When I'm on a tear, I don't want more water in my Scotch. That's why they make wine and beer.

 

[24Hours]

Demographics

Our household: Under-30 Husband & wife with baby on the way. Wife wants the fastest looking car possible, so she says red in the hopes that it resembles that killer 850R wagon we sold (w/ tan suede & leather). We are going to Philly's auto show next weekend in the hopes of making a decision on the leather. I say go with the Atacama since it looks like we'd be sitting in a Coach wallet but it could be really ugly in person (esp w/ the Flash Green paint!). Hm, as for the wheels: I was always really careful with my 17s, even in NYC (where some of the worst drivers live) though I attributed the reliability of the wheels as much to the driver <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emsmile.gif" BORDER="0"> as to the 45s. Now the dilemma. Think about this: the S6 Avant will be marketed with 255/40/17 wheels and it's a heavier car (listed at 4,024 lbs. as per the company) than the V70R, which is 3,797 lbs. for the comparable GT (or 33lbs less for my 6spd). Perhaps that wider fit displaces some of the extra (slow-them-down) weight. Ha!<BR><BR>
[Modified by 24Hours, 5:10 AM 1-7-2003]

 

[24Hours]

Re: More R Info from NAIAS 2003 ([email protected])

PS: George, great post and I'm looking forward to the full transcript. Thanks. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emsmile.gif" BORDER="0">

 

[[email protected]]

Re: More R Info from NAIAS 2003 (24Hours)

yeah, what he said - and more picts! <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emsmile.gif" BORDER="0"><p>

 

[GrecianVolvo]

Re: Demographics (24Hours)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>We are going to Philly's auto show next weekend in the hopes of making a decision on the leather<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><p>Don,<p>there will not be any R cars on display at the Philadelphia Auto Show.<p>Yannis

 

[defgh1]

Re: Demographics (GrecianVolvo)

Thanks George for the update. It is nice to hear about good brake wear on the new R. Until I replaced the stock brake pads on my 98R with IPD pads I was only getting 10K miles a set. Also the brake dust was unbelievable with the stock pads. I do not understand Volvo's logic on not offering 18" wheels on the V70 but allowing the option on the S60. I guess they think V70 owners are not as sophisticated/knowledgable as S60 owners. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emsmilep.gif" BORDER="0"> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emdgust.gif" BORDER="0">

 

[petew]

Re: Demographics (GrecianVolvo)

Yannis,<p>NO R's AT THE PHILLY AUTO SHOW!? <p>sheesh! well, you saved me a trip....maybe i'll go anyway to look at the S6<p>i'll stop at the Audi dealer and see if he has some discount tickets<p>nice work Volvo --- brilliant marketing plan --- send your customers over to Audi<p><br>

 

[24Hours]

No R models in Philly?

Great, I just bought my train tickets yesterday. I went to the Philly Auto Show web site where there is NO frickin' info and naturally Volvo has zilch on their site. So the earliest I can see this car and then make an informed decision is (please correct me if I am wrong) at the NYC show in April?!? Agh, how frustrating! I wonder if I screw my order in terms of priority if I change my mind on the interior as late as April. What other Northeast auto show may have the R models before April? Thanks for your help, Yannis. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/embeer.gif" BORDER="0">

 

[GrecianVolvo]

Re: Demographics (petew)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR><p>nice work Volvo --- brilliant marketing plan --- send your customers over to Audi<p><br><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><p>yep..."nice" work, as usual...their Marketing strategy STINKS...we are used to that.<p>Yannis

 

[GrecianVolvo]

Re: No R models in Philly? (24Hours)

NY Auto Show is your best bet.<p>Yannis

 

[[email protected]]

Re: Demographics (defgh1)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> I guess they think V70 owners are not as sophisticated/knowledgable as S60 owners. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emsmilep.gif" BORDER="0"> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emdgust.gif" BORDER="0"> <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><p>I think it's more that Volvo sees the S60R buyers as more hardcore. Off the record, and I never confirmed this so it's pure speculation, I'd guess that with the added weight (namely because the V70 is more likely to be more heavily ladened with cargo) Volvo doesn't want to have major wheel bendage issues. <p>You can still buy the wheels through the parts department, but I'd guess there'll be other S60R owners out there who might be willing to trade once they find that ride might be too harsh for them.

 

[defgh1]

Re: Demographics ([email protected])

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> ...but I'd guess there'll be other S60R owners out there who might be willing to trade once they find that ride might be too harsh for them.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><p>I recently went from 245X45X17 to 245X40X18 on my Dodge Stealth TwinTurbo and I could not tell any real difference in the ride harshness. I expect there will not be much ride difference between the 235X45X17 and 235X40X18 tires on the V70 R. I do not know the max. weight capacity of the S60R and V70R but there is only 205 lbs difference between them unloaded. If weight will be a bendage issue then, as I said earlier, S60R owners should then limit what they try to haul. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emwink.gif" BORDER="0"> The purchase of the wheels through parts will be an expensive option. I guess more than twice the $995 option at purchase. The trading with S60R will also be limited due to the number of S60Rs with this option who are willing to trade. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emsad.gif" BORDER="0"> Sorry, just had to vent a little.

 

[Johann]

Re: Demographics (defgh1)

A few months back I ran out of rubber on my S60 with 235/40-18" Bridgestone S03'2.<br>Just before a 1200 KM trip I changed wheels back to the original 225/45-17"with Conti tires and I found the difference to be huge.<br>A lot more "comfort", to much to my likings.<br>I drove the S60 with 18" wheels from day one.<br>I used to have 2 sets of 18"wheels, one with Bridgestone's and one with Dunlop SP9000's.<br>Although I found the SP9000 to feel very unstable on the first half of it's thread life it was still stiffer compared to the 17".<br>I guess the 4C comfort setting can make up for the harder ride because some reviews found the comfort setting to be very soft.

 

[Volvo Grrrr]

Re: Demographics (Johann)

The ride difference could be partly due to the different tire you ran. Personally IU think Conti's are a softer tire than the Bridgestones. Different tires have different compounds and they can be softer/harder than the ones you currently run.<p>Most people who buy the V70R will be loading it up with stuff. (big tv's, furniture, etc..) which will weigh the car down. It will increase chances of bending a rim on bad roads. If you want the 18's on the V70R, just buy them though TireRack.<p>RJ