Where we went: If you’re new in town and need to make friends, drop everything you’re doing and get yourself a new Volvo XC40 right now. My word, this car attracts attention! No matter where we drove, stopped or parked, this pearl white T5 R-Design model would draw in inquisitive onlookers within seconds.
I’ve got another confession to make. Besides incredibly common cars like Polos or Fortuners, there’s another class of automobile that leaves me reasonably cold: the mid-size SUV. You know what I’m talking about, right? Think Audi Q5, BMW X5, Mercedes ML or GLE and my latest test car – Volvo’s XC60.
Veiligheid, gemak, spasie en gebalanseerde ryvernuf. Dit is begrippe waarmee die splinternuwe Volvo XC40 goed opgesom kan word. Tydens die loods van die model in April het ons dit al bevestig en na ‘n week met die voertuig, kan ons dit nét beaam. Die XC40 is ‘n voertuig wat goed bo sy eie gewig slaan en meer bied as wat verwag word.
What you need to know: Volvo isn’t exactly well represented in Namibia (or southern Africa, for that matter) but that doesn’t stop us from adoring them. That’s right, every member of the NamWheels office is a huge Volvo fan and, given the opportunity, will gush about the Swedish modernity and great road manners.
We were recently invited to the launch of the all-new Volvo XC 40 in Johannesburg to test this new vehicle in the busy urban terrain.
Nie te lank terug nie was Volvos gekenmerk as bokserige en oud-modiese voertuie. Iets wat nie werklik aanloklik is vir elke motoris nie. Wel, met die nuwe V90 reeks is hierdie seining beslis op sy kop gekeer. Nie net lok dit almal se oë op die pad nie, maar kom die kar in geheel baie naby aan perfeksie.
Volvo het pas die motorwêreld omgekeer met die nuus van hul nuwe “Paradigma verskuiwing”. Hierdie behels dat suster-vervaardiger, Polestar, nou vervaardig sal word in China vanaf 2019. Die verskuiwing bring egter nuwe ideologiëe saam.
Volvo has long been associated with the growth of more safety, electronic and self-driving vehicles. Today they made a big announcement in terms of these three focus areas.
Imposing. That’s the word a neighbour finally settled on after an extensive inspection of our latest test car. “It’s a big car but they’ve hidden the sedan’s bulk quite well.” Other words that pop up during our lengthy look at this car are “graceful”, “stylish” and “modern”. This is the new Volvo flagship sedan, the S90.