It seems like every car company has some new upgrade to their car line-up and yet Volvo is still using the same designs from the early 2000's. I know the XC60 is coming out in the fall and I'm really excited about that but what about any new styling/cars from Volvo? Anyone know the future of Volvo?

~jon

 

One thing fairly new; The C30 is out and was supposed to compete with the Mini Cooper, as well as being geared to a younger market. From what my salesman tells me when I talk with him, it hasn't been selling well and seems to be little interest based on price point, etc.

In my opinion (being a car guy in Detroit for the past 25 years) the best thing that could happen to Volvo is if Ford were to sell them off or have the company go independant again.A former colleague of mine in Europecalls on the Volvo factoriesand also their headquarters. Just recently hetold me that Volvo is under tremendous pressure byFordto be profitable, Volvo purchasing ispushing their suppliers very hard (like Ford does, which is very cutthroat in my experience), and the Volvo plants are mandated to cut costs whereever possible. This isn't fiction, it's hardcore business, and related by someone who deals with the plants weekly.

My fear is that through this short sighted strategy, the Volvo product will quickly become "just another Ford" as a result of Ford's group-think when it comes to global purchasing and sourcing strategies, instead of allowing Volvo to be unique and creative with their new offerings.

While I know your question was geared to updated looks, styling and features, one also needs to look at Ford's stock at under $7. / share. Couple that with 25% of Volvo's production being shipped to NAFTA, a market in which they sell at razor thin margins. When they aren't making money, you can expect more of the same, Volvo products simply warmed over with minor fascia and trim updates, and Volvo components replaced with ones out of Ford production purchasing they can buy more cheaply,as they find a way to improve their profitability.

The LBO/acquisition/merger games of the 1980's and 1990's are proving themselves nottowork. We see that now after Ford's sale of Land Rover and Jaguar.They did nothing good with both brands and in the end, the only thing that really happened is that the products got worse. Let's hope TATA in India can turn that around. (Ford is not the lone culprit... GM isn't doing anything for Saab either...).

If Volvo is going to continue to be a marque that stands out in styling, safety, innovative features and quality (most importantly, quality), then somehow someway the ties with Ford will need to be broken.

I hate to be the buzz-kill for this thread, but for the near term, I don't see them doing much, and long term, as (and if) the relationship continues, my fear is that the new products will start to go downhill.

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas of Volvo. As of now I don’t have any idea about the future Volvo. I also read automotive news and blog like autopartswarehouse.com. Maybe I could find there the latest Volvo model.

 

I think Volvoshave classic/distinct lines and changing them like every tom, dick and harry car line takes away from the lines and classic nature and reputation of the cars design....

 

TO: bluemagicbus

Wow! Thanks for sharing what you wrote! That's really insightful!

Hopefully Volvo can turn around soon and ditch Ford.

I hope Volvo doesn't go the way of Plymouth brand cars.

~jon