Thanks for the pics.

I see what you mean by a ton of gadgets...why do I feel like those cameras would be stolen in no time? All in all I really like the general design of the car, but yeah, those show models certainly don't scream performance to me. I think its the monster truck effect with the gap in the wheel well. Plus the wheels are kinda, eh. I'm definitely more excited about the design of the back end than the front. Seriously though, what's up with that grill/badge? Maybe its better in person.

I feel like the "naughty" ad campaign is trying too hard and doesn't quite fit...hmm. Will be interesting to see what people do with these.

 

Yes, it felt like it was trying too hard for the demographic not interested in performance and not hard enough for the demographic that was there with thoughts of R in the back of their mind. The Volvo rep that was there from VNCA must have come on after the R. He didn't seem to get it that I had an R when I said "yeah I have 4C too"....either that or they are trying to put the previous gen so far behind them that they didnt want to talk about it....but you can't deny that this car will be compared with the R when Volvo calls it the most sporty volvo ever. I'm just not seeing it yet, maybe I will get to drive it tomorrow at the other event in town.

 

Utility.....the interior is loads better than previous S60 when it comes to utility, however I noticed loads of soft touch plastics which just felt cheaper than my hard touch plastics in the R.

On the opposite, the softer plastic/rubber buttons are more luxurious and are meant to provide a more upscale feel to the user. However, that is subjective.

Thanks for posting the pictures however I am getting error messages when I click on the link.

 

Thanks for posting the pictures however I am getting error messages when I click on the link.

I had to install a Microsoft Silverlight plug-in before i could view, that may be your error.

Inteller - Kind of a trivial question, but how "tight" are the buttons? That's a big one for me. I can get over the feel of the plastic as long as the button doesn't have a super long travel.

 

definitely subjective. I find these kind of soft touch plastics in Hondas and Toyotas...not the cars I want to associate with a Volvo. Notice I say "these kind of" soft plastics. These are kinda slabbed on without any texture and just came off as cheap. it also seemed like a lot of 12v sockets...but no 120v plug.

I've seen hard plastics done well....in my EX35 Infiniti and my R. Sorry you are getting errors on the pics....might have something blocked at work.

 

well the other consideration could be that there is some reserve in the electronics that allow me to do it when the car is just shut off...not sure.

 

Thanks for the pics!

However, no pics of the "HMI" interface?

Also, nice to finally see the "buttons" up close, but IMO, it does seem like a really poor choice of layout. Next and previous are on opposite sides? Eject center top? I wonder how many people are going to be accidently ejecting their CDs (assuming they still use them)

 

hopefully I'll get to look at the HMI more today if it doesnt rain out the other party and we can drive it.

 

Nicely done write up. Don't know why they didn't drive it in the rain, they don't melt. Though I am surprised by your comment about the rear leg room. My wife went from an S70 to an S80 because the kids could not fit their legs in the rear seat of the old S60. The new car has fully 3 more inches of rear leg room than the old S60. Needsdecaf is right, voice activation is possible, as is control from the steering wheel. Volvo will never have a touch screen, so the buttons around the perimiter of the center console combined with the steering wheel scroll control is their alternative to an "i-drive" or other interface.

 

Well, as I mentioned the -practical- leg room is the same. That 3 inches is hidden somehwere, because when the guy in front of me moved the seat back to what I would call a normal position (so he could breathe) it was the same as my R. Methinks Volvo was doing some rounding up.

As far as no touch screen ever because of safety or something, fiddling with those tiny buttons on the console are no more safe....providing a num pad to dial directly is decidedly unsafe in that regard. Like the car, it seems Volvo has developed a split personality on safety vs performance/usability

 

They are really stubborn about touch screen, it is the lack of haptic feedback. Their attitude is a button that you can feel your finger pushing is a lesser evil than pressing on a screen with no feedback. But voice control is really the best option.

 

oh whatever...they are concerned about how your finger feels on a button but they don't seem to mind adding lots of other sensory dulling gizmos like BLIS.

 

even more to my point, move secondary buttons to a soft screen and clean up the console. I know it pains them to admit it, but they could learn some things from Japanese interior design....they'll be learning a lot from Chinese interior design in the future though

 

Honestly, touch screens suck. I lived with one for 5 years. Give me real buttons.

By the way...don't ever get in an Acura if you think this car has a lot of buttons. My MDX would have you in fits.

BTW, saw your pictures and the picture of that front view camera....hideous.

 

ok, I just returned from the second event here in TUlsa. I got to get behind the wheel this time, but they only allow you to test pedestrian detection. All I can say is I hope it works better in the real world than a controlled environment. I ran over the dummy! I have learned that it doesn't bring the car to a complete stop, it brakes hard, then rolls slowly, so you are expected to put your foot on the brake immediately afterwards. The first time I just couldn't wait for it, I braked before the system took over. Sorry, but I am not sold.

An old lady there asked "does pedestrian detection work from the rear?" to which I thought..."no, Volvo can't save the public from runaway geriatrics!"

There were more enthusiast types at this event. There were interested R owners at both events now (not just counting me).....Volvo...you need to give us an R!

 

yeah, send the front view camera back to the drawing board. It sticks out so far it attracts deviant attention and someone will rip it off.

 

Common...I really doubt anyone would rip that away. What would they do with the camera anyway? And if it's just gratuitous evil, then they'd probably take a turn at the windshield, wipers (which are more easy to take off), mirrors, etc.
My problem with the camera frankly, is that its in a location that doesn't have any protection against stone chips.
My bet is death by stone rather than human

 

no, you'd be surprised at the mall rats...they see something new and different and they are going to take a swipe at it.

 

I just got back from the one in Phoenix. Apparently, Powell cancelled at some point (they seem to be on shaky ground...). So I took the rush-hour drive up to Sanderson. My views on the car were about the same as the original poster's. I asked if they fixed the turning circle (39.3 ft...eh..not really better). The back seat is still useless for putting adults behind the driver. The seats are good, but not as good as my R. The interior materials look more Mazda than Volvo.

I also asked if they fixed the intercooler set up. My R here in Phoenix is really struggling with the summer temps. I can hold about 8 psi of boost due to the high intake temps. They had no idea if it had been addressed. Not that I am all that surprised.

In Phoenix it was mostly old men too. They almost seemed a bit put off by how curious I was about the technical upgrades to the platform. I am just not getting this 'naughty' angle. There is *Nothing* controversial about these cars. If they really want naughty, they should open up some engineering projects to us enthusiasts. I bet a month or two with iPD and some old R owners and we could put together a pretty decent 'naughty package' that could mostly be installed by the dealers on delivery. Right now the car is just more of the same, but more bulbous and hefty in the rear.

Meh, maybe when the warranty is up on the R, I will go see what their lease structure is like. The new S60 is looking awfully Toyota-esque at this point.

 

yeah, you just reminded me of another observation....when I was headed out to the showfloor to get in the S60, I looked across the sea of cars and I saw this car moving between them. I was sad that I could not instantly recognize it from the Infinitis and other Volvos on the lot. It has really achieved a 'me too' look....especially from the side. Here's hoping Horbury changes this soon as there is no mistaking my R from a group.

 

Haha, I liked your title "Improper Mirror Position Compensator" It's amazing how many people don't adjust their side-view mirrors correctly.

"they tried to push the P2 platform too far with the R and exposed it's flaws (cooling, rear suspension, bushings, etc.)"

Hm, what do you mean by bushings? Most of the newer Volvos have problems with the bushings wearing down quickly; it doesn't seem exclusive to the R.

Excellent review overall. I'm guessing the "special memento" was a water bottle? I'm agreed about the lack of uniqueness among other cars as well. Though I haven't seen it in person yet.

It's neat how the S60R was able to remain surprisingly true to the PCC concept car. The S60 gen II, on the other hand wasn't able to do that so much with the prototype.

Also, it seems like the pedestrian detection system only works under perfect conditions: i.e. a sunny day. Doesn't work at night-time, it can't adapt to slippery conditions for rain/snow etc. That's a great tidbit you provided about how it works realistically, which to me makes it seem like a big expensive novelty. I applaud Volvo's desire to provide better pedestrian safety, but I'm not sold either.

 

Also, it seems like the pedestrian detection system only works under perfect conditions: i.e. a sunny day. Doesn't work at night-time...

That's quite interesting actually. I was wondering as well why they didn't choose a better camera, something like an IR camera. I think the problem would be when trying to figure out where the cars are...and an IR camera could not discern from other fake heat signatures. As a software engineer, I know that it is fairly easy to recognize people. People's skin (no matter the color) have a certain specific hue that can be easily found in an image. Then all you need to do is shape recognition. The problem with this thing is that it requires a "normal camera" (one working at wavelengths comparable to the human eye). This in turn has the disadvantage of not fairing so well at night, in the rain...etc

...it can't adapt to slippery conditions for rain/snow etc...

My guess is that it couldn't know the actual road conditions until it broke and then it would be too late. You wouldn't want your car braking just to "assess" road conditions, would you?
Also...you can't say "if it snows or rains, brake earlier " because not always do the road conditions degrade enough to have an impact on the braking efficiency, especially at the speeds that pedestrian detection system is working (under 35kph)

...That's a great tidbit you provided about how it works realistically, which to me makes it seem like a big expensive novelty. I applaud Volvo's desire to provide better pedestrian safety, but I'm not sold either.

I agree, it does not seem to be the perfect answer to pedestrian detection, BUT it's still more than nothing. Don't rely on it to save you from a crash, but it may very well be of use one day. It won't do any harm to have it either.

One thing to also think of, is that the system is trained to intervene as LATE as possible. For instance the radar mounted on the grill sees objects 150m away, but it will still wait until the very last second to issue an alarm, or brake for itself. They did it this way just to avoid having the system mislabelling a situation and braking unnecessarily (like when overtaking someone on a road with incoming traffic)

 

yes the give away was the water bottle, a very nice looking water bottle I might add, but I've not tested its functionality yet. It is made in china so I see Volvo is already making the transition

 

Got a pic of the water bottle? I'm still debating if I want to go..and hey, free water bottle...it would be a nice thing to have when I go to the gym.

 

I checked the tour dates and they are not coming to Ohio - at all.

 

that's interesting.