Are You Following the Volvo Ocean Race?

Not many people make the connection between Volvo and 100 year old ocean racing, but we just chalk this up to yet another little known fact about this great car company.

It all started with two sailors and their solo voyages around the world: British adventurer Sir Francis Chichester and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail single handed and non-stop around the world between June 14,1968 and April 22,1969.In 1973 the Whitbread round the World Race contest was held using fully crewed yachts. Dangerous and perilous doesn’t begin to describe the situation. In fact, three sailors were lost after being thrown overboard during storms. From that point on, they ran a similar contest every four years.

In 2001-2002, Volvo claimed the race as the first Volvo Ocean Race, which some refer to as the “Everest of Sailing.” The race lasts nine months, and this year we began in October 2011 in Alicante, Spain and will end in early July 2012 in Galway, Ireland. According to a Volvo press release, “teams will sail over 39,000 nautical miles of the world’s most treacherous seas via Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Auckland, around Cape Horn to Itajaí, Miami, Lisbon, and Lorient.”

Each sailing team includes 11 professional crew members, and, depending on the leg of the journey, a team member could race day and night for 20 days straight with only freeze-dried rations for sustenance. This is a major mental and physical challenge for sailors who will endure sleep deprivation and hunger while providing off-the-charts strength and tenacity in temperature variations from -5 to +40 degrees Celsius. Crew members are allowed to bring only one change of clothes, and each takes on a different job while onboard the yacht. Among the 11 crew members, at least two sailors will have had medical training, one sailmaker, an engineer and one dedicated media crew member.

The boats are 70 feet long mono-haul designs recognized as the fastest sailing vessels of their kind and reaching speeds in excess of 25 knots. In fact, the 24 h our sailing record of 592 nautical miles is held by a Volvo Ocean Race 70!


This race is not for the weak of heart or mind and includes extreme conditions, real-life drama and a true test of one’s ability to work as a team coupled with incredible endurance.
You can log onto this website and follow the race live:
http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/home.html


You can sign up to watch live streaming video here:
http://new.livestream.com/volvooceanrace

Some Things Are Just Worth Waiting For

According to lead Volvo engineer Ichiro Sugioka, the Volvo Plug-in Hybrid is worth the wait. Volvo recently released its first production Plug-in Hybrid, the V60, for the European market, but it was many years in the making. “I work at the Volvo Concept and Design Center in Camarillo, where we have been working toward this car since 1990. We have been experimenting with the necessary technologies as they became available, and it’s only recently that we found technology good enough to make a practical car,” said Sugioka.

While the lithium ion battery is a key element; Sugioka believes the electric motors also can be improved quite a bit. “It’s not just about, ‘does it function?' It is also about, 'How much does it cost? How long does it last?’ That’s why it takes so long. We are not going to put a product out on the road that is a science experiment,” he added. When you work for a world class company like Volvo and are designing a vehicle to be road-worthy, it is quite different from a typical university project. “There’s a big difference in what we do and what they do. For a college student, if it breaks, they learn something. If one of our cars breaks, that is not a good thing. Our cars must be safer and more affordable; and that is what my job is right now.”

Sugioka was born in Japan, and when he was seven years old his father was transferred to New York City. After he graduated high school, he attended Caltech Pasadena for his undergraduate degree and received a master’s degree from MIT. “I went back to Caltech for my PhD, and I’ve been here ever since,” he said. When you ask him how he got into designing cars, he chuckles and says, “I’m really a rocket scientist! My thesis is applicable to rocket engines.” After the Cold War ended and the Soviet Union collapsed, there were very few jobs for people who design missiles. Sugioka ran wind tunnel testing at Caltech for many clients, which included several car companies in an effort to help make cars more efficient. Volvo was among many car manufacturers he worked with back in 1989, and in 1994 Volvo hired him to work at its Monitoring and Concept Center. “I can’t believe I’ve been here 17 years!” he said.

Sugioka worked on the first S80 that was ultimately produced in 1999. This took five years. “It takes that long to get a car on the road,” said Sugioka. After that, he worked on the first S60 and the first XC90 and finally began working on electric cars. “I was the project leader for the 3CC, 2004 electric car, and it was a vey significant step for us. It was one of the first cars with lithium ion batteries on the road. This experience eventually led to the pure-electric C30 battery electric car that is now available in Europe. It’s a luxury electric car, so it’s pricey. It’s not for the mass market. It’s for people who ‘just have to have one.’ We put emphasis on making it safe and working in subfreezing weather, which is not something other electric cars can claim to do,” said Sugioka. “The lithium ion battery is really a new technology; it didn’t exist when I joined the company. We don’t want to rush into anything too fast and get our customers into trouble,” he added.. As always, Volvo focuses on the safety of the driver and designs its cars to perform during the worst possible situations. With electric cars, special care has been taken to encapsulate the battery in such a way that protects it and the driver in the event of an accident. The “three-cars-in-one” Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the kind of car that Volvo will ultimately produce for sale in the United States. The “Pure,” “Hybrid” and “Power” buttons on the center console allow the driver to choose an electric car, a hybrid or a higher horsepower “fun to drive” mode.

“The one that we are producing right now is made for the European market with a diesel car so we can learn as much as we can about the first product and see how the car is used in normal driving situations. A diesel car does not meet California emissions standards, but we have a really heavy mandate by Europe to produce this car. If you travel to Europe we recommend you take a test drive in one and experience the ‘three-cars-in-one’ experience.” You can’t really compare the Volvo Plug-in Hybrid with any of the hybrids sold here in the United States, because it is a completely different car. European drivers are much different than American drivers. Europeans accelerate harder on the freeways, and in Germany there is no speed limit, so you don’t get the same fuel economy as you would get here in the United States. “Because people in Europe drive so fast, you need a different kind of car, a different kind of engine; and the Prius is not it. Most people don’t realize that a hybrid runs on its engine power once you are in highway speed; then it’s not running on the electric power anymore,” said Sugioka.

Volvo is also looking at a wheel motors technology. Similar to the seatbelt technology that Volvo developed but deliberately didn’t claim exclusivity for so that other car companies would use it, Volvo developed wheel motors technology and made it available for other car companies. “We aren’t making it exclusive to Volvo, because this is something that can help others make cars run more efficiently,” said Sugioka. With the wheel motors technology, the experimental C30 plug-in hybrid has 400 horsepower total with each wheel producing 100 horsepower. It is currently undergoing testing in the UK, and, according to Sugioka, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to improve durability and cost. “We are doing a lot of durability testing. After a few thousand miles, they fix it and make it last longer. On the plus side, this technology allows software to make the car do almost anything,” he added.

Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Cars, summed up the theory behind the Volvo second generation hybrid when he said, “In order to get true car enthusiasts to think green, you have to offer them the opportunity to drive with low carbon dioxide emissions. That should not, however, take away the adrenaline rush that promotes genuine driving pleasure.”

Freecreditreport.com is NOT

I always wondered how a company like Freecreditreport.com could afford all those fancy television ads and provide a free service to consumers. If it's "free," who pays for the ads? This falls under the category "If it sounds too good to be true, it is."

The folks at Experian, the company that owns Freecreditreport.com, didn't flat out lie or anything . You do get a copy of your credit report at no charge but only after you enroll in a $14.95 a month credit monitoring service.

Turns out the Federal Trade Commission has been working for years to try to force Freecreditreport.com to more clearly disclose that "free" refers to the one time credit report you receive AFTER you sign up for their credit monitoring service. It was reported that the FTC fined Experian twice for deceptive advertising - once for $950,000 and another one for $300,000. Meanwhile, London based Experian posted earnings for 2009 at $3.9 billion. Even when you consider the costs for the Freecreditreport.com ads are estimated at $58 million dollars a year, these fines amount to nothing more than a light slap on the wrist.

The good news is that there is a way to get a TRULY FREE credit report. It's called AnnualCreditReport.com. By Federal law, consumers are entitled to receive a FREE copy of their credit report once a year from all three credit reporting agencies: TransUnion, Experian and Equifax.

You can also protect yourself against identity theft by putting a freeze on your credit. Instead of paying $200 a year for a credit card monitoring service, just sign up online with all three bureaus and freeze your credit. The charge to freeze or "temporarily thaw" your credit by using a personal identification number (PIN) is typically less than $10 per bureau depending on where you live.

Here are a few websites to get you started:
https://www.freeze.equifax.com/
http://www.experian.com/consumer/security_freeze.html
https://annualcreditreport.transunion.com/fa/securityFreeze/landing


Consumers should always be cautious when signing up for anything that claims to be "free." Rarely are there no strings attached. It's important to always read the fine print especially with cleverly designed online ads. You can also check the Better Business Bureau for a list of complaints.

EDUCATION PAYS

Volvo Cars of North America is helping Educators with their new car purchase by offering a $1500 discount off the purchase or lease of eligible Volvo vehicles.

Eligible vehicles include all new XC90, XC70, S80, V70 or C70 models.

Customers must be a member of the National Education Association – the largest membership organization for education professionals in the United States, a NEA employee or state Affiliate employee to qualify. For instance, for California, the state Affiliate is the California Teacher’s Association.

All you need is your school ID (members) or business card (employees) and the NEA discount coupon in order to qualify for the program.

Call 1-800-GO-VOLVO (800/468-6586) for more information.

Like all good things, this promotion will end soon, so call today and take advantage of this great benefit before Sept. 30, 2009.

DUST OFF YOUR PASSPORTS!

May Husk taking delivery of her new Volvo C30 in Sweden

Are you in the market for a new Volvo?

Have you always wanted to travel to Sweden?

The timing couldn’t be better to take full advantage of the VOLVO OVERSEAS DELIVERY program.

Here are just a few benefits:

* A huge savings off the MSRP compared to taking delivery of a Volvo that has already arrived here in the USA.
* Roundtrip tickets for two to Europe!
* One free night at the Raddison SAS, a first class hotel in Gothenburg, Sweden, home of Volvo. For a limited time, if customers take delivery of a 2009 in-stock vehicle, Volvo offers an additional free night.
* Fifteen day European Car Insurance coverage including Swedish temporary registration of your new vehicle.
* Tour of the Factory Delivery Center in Gothenburg, Sweden and enjoy a complimentary Swedish Meatball lunch.
* And much, much more…

According to Steve Johnson, Volvo of Calabasas Overseas Delivery expert, this is the best way to buy a new Volvo. Johnson traveled to Sweden in March 2009 to take delivery of the 2010 Volvo XC60. “Go hungry,” said Johnson. The most amazing thing about the Raddison SAS is the breakfast. You have never seen so much food in your life… every day … free,” he said.

As “2008 Salesman of the Year” for Volvo of Calabasas, Francisco Rodriguez earned a factory trip to Sweden. “Volvo treats you like royalty. You feel like you are part of the Volvo Royal family the minute you get off the plane,” he said.

But don’t take our word for it. Just ask Norm and May Husk, Volvo of Calabasas customers who took delivery of their 2009 Volvo C30 in October 2008.

“Our experience with the Volvo Overseas program was truly remarkable. Absolutely every detail was taken care of. The flights were perfect. The accommodations at the Radisson were beyond what we expected. And, yes, the food was outrageously delicious! We spent a week after delivery of the Volvo just traveling by train to Stockholm then back to Denmark. This is an opportunity every prospective Volvo owner should take advantage of. Thank you, Volvo, and Steve Johnson, for this once in a lifetime experience!!!"

Warm regards, Norm and May Husk

For more information, give us a call at 1-800-VOLVO! Or visit us at www.volvoofcalabasas.com

FROM SWEDEN WITH LÖV

With the tour of the 2010 XC60 just underway, Volvo has redefined its customer ownership experience, and by the sounds of some of the reviews, it’s LÖV at first sight!

The 2010 Volvo XC60 Crossover takes safety to a whole new level. The car even stops itself! It’s called “City Safety,” and it is standard equipment on all XC60s along with Standard Bluetooth, HD Radio with SIRIUS Satellite Radio (comes with a complimentary six month subscription), Dual Zone Climate Control, Leather Seating Surfaces and both USB and AUX input jacks.

For all pre-orders taken prior to March 31, 2009, Volvo is offering a complimentary lifetime SIRIUS subscription. An additional standard feature offered only during the launch is complimentary two-panel Panoramic Sun Roof. Optional packages include navigation, heated seats, a factory installed rear park assist back up camera and much more.

After 80 years, Volvo continues to live up to the slogan “Volvo for Life” with the addition of the XC60 to its already superb lineup. When you add Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance and a Turbo Charged engine that uses regular gasoline, you might be thinking “It doesn’t get any better than this!”

Volvo is convinced that this vehicle will not only bring in new customers but will also be an attractive switch for its already loyal customer base. And Volvo customers are among the most loyal I have ever seen.

Time and time again customers tell me that they wouldn’t drive any other brand. One customer even confessed that she thought she might be missing out on something, so she tried another manufacturer and couldn’t wait to get back into a Volvo. “I won’t make that mistake again,” she said.

The XC60 is considered a Small Premium Utility vehicle and competes with the Acura RDX, BMW X3, Infiniti EX35 and the Lexus RX350. The XC60 utilizes a Volvo engineered 3.0 liter, 281 horsepower T6 engine. With All Wheel Drive, Instant Traction and a six-speed Geartronic™ automatic transmission, this car could already be ahead of the competition.

But Volvo doesn’t rest on its laurels when it comes to safety. By far the most compelling feature of the XC60 is City Safety. According to talking points from Volvo Cars of North America , City Safety is the “world’s first standard equipment driver support system aimed at preventing or mitigating collisions occurring at speeds of 19 MPH or less. These represent about 75% of all collisions with about half occurring in city traffic situations.” But what does that really mean?

Say you are driving along in normal stop-and-go traffic and the car in front of you slows down to a crawl. City Safety is active at speeds from 2 to 19 miles per hour and uses a "closing velocity sensor" that is mounted ahead of the inside rear view mirror to determine whether a collision is likely. So when the car in front of you slows down to 9 MPH or less your XC60 recognizes the slowdown and immediately reacts to prevent or lessen the impact of a rear end collision. At the same time, it prepares the restraint system to optimize protection in the event of an unavoidable collision.

The XC60 also offers stand alone safety options like integrated second-row child booster seats, trailer stability assist, Blind Spot Information System, Volvo's Personal Car Communicator with heartbeat sensor and keyless drive.

Technology packages will feature a 650-watt Dynaudio surround sound audio system, a six-disc CD changer, navigation with real-time traffic and a rear view camera.

According to Volvo of Calabasas General Manager Mike Abell, the XC60 will quickly become a best seller at his store. "I drove the car and was really impressed at how well it handled. I was amazed at how well the City Safety feature worked. It's also loaded with the amenities everyone asks for like built-in bluetooth and HD Radio, which are standard," he said.

The first batch of XC60s will be six cylinder Turbos with All Wheel Drive and a base price of $37,200. Base models will follow shortly thereafter, but when you throw in all the standard features, I think you will agree that this car is definitely an affordable alternative to others in its class.

Call 1-800-GO-VOLVO for an invitation to a sneak preview of the 2010 Volvo XC60 at Volvo of Calabasas in mid-February. This is an "invitation only" event, and space is limited, so call today. Customer deliveries will begin in March 2009.

You can also go to http://www.volvocars.us/new%20XC60 for more details.