• Safety development based on reality{nl}• Volvo redrew the safety map for SUVs{nl}• Highest safety ratings in objective surveys{nl}• Unique safety, also in the third row of seats{nl}• Transversely mounted engines contribute to safety{nl}• Advanced functions for increased driver control{nl} The Volvo XC90, the SUV from Volvo Cars that has won numerous awards, has been on the market since 2002 and has become very popular, not least among large families.{nl}The reasons for this are not only the roomy cabin and comfortable seating for seven{nl}people. One of the most compelling arguments is the high level of safety, which is based{nl}on a number of solutions and systems that were unique for an SUV at the time the car{nl}was launched.{nl} Volvo Cars has the world’s most advanced testing facility for automotive safety. The{nl}possibilities provided by the facility, combined with the comprehensive research that{nl}Volvo has done in the field and a holistic view of safety, form the basis of Volvo’s{nl}extensive knowledge about what happens in traffic accidents, and the way in which{nl}protective solutions function in actual traffic situations. Based on this knowledge, the{nl}different Volvo models can be developed as effectively as possible to help avoid{nl}accidents and to provide protection if something should happen. This broad view of{nl}safety and solid know-how were among the most important prerequisites for Volvo Cars{nl}for entering the SUV segment. Our ambition was to create an SUV that could be{nl}compared with the best passenger cars with respect to both driving stability and the{nl}capacity to provide effective protection in various types of accidents.“We would go so far as to say that we redrew the safety map for SUVs when we{nl}designed the Volvo XC90,” says Ingrid Skogsmo, head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre. “Our{nl}ambition was to achieve a very high level of safety for everyone in the car, and test{nl}results indicate that we have succeeded.”{nl} The Volvo XC90 receives consistently high ratings and positive assessments in surveys{nl}conducted by independent organisations. The five stars in Euro NCAP are based to a{nl}great extent on the comprehensive protection for the occupants of the car, and the well{nl}functioning protection for children. The IIHS (Insurance Institute For Highway Safety){nl}reports similar results. They give the XC90 the highest ratings for both frontal offset{nl}collisions and rear-end collisions. The Volvo XC90 is also one of the few models among{nl}SUVs and pickups to receive the highest rating for protection against whiplash injuries.{nl}Another clear indication of the high degree of safety in the XC90 is the result that the{nl}IIHS’s sister organisation, the Highway Loss Data Institute, arrived at when they{nl}compared different car models with respect to the costs incurred by insurance{nl}companies. In this respect, the Volvo XC90 is the leader among mid-sized SUVs with{nl}regard to minimizing the costs incurred by insurance companies.{nl}Built like a passenger car{nl}The Volvo XC90 is a modern SUV, built like a passenger car with a monocoque body,{nl}effective deformation zones, a low centre of gravity, and advanced systems to minimize{nl}the risk of injury, regardless of the type of accident. Among other things, the XC90 was{nl}fitted with a unique system to counteract roll-overs, a type of accident that was often{nl}associated with earlier SUV models. This system, Roll Stability Control (RSC), is an{nl}active, stability-promoting system that uses a gyroscope to determine the risk of a rollover.{nl}If the system determines that the risk is imminent, engine torque is cut and a{nl}certain amount of brake force is applied to one or more wheels to counteract the rollover{nl}movement.{nl} If a roll-over cannot be avoided, the occupants are protected by the interior safety{nl}system that includes safety belt tensioners and Inflatable Curtains (IC). In addition, the{nl}extremely robust safety cage around the occupants contributes to reducing the risk of{nl}the cabin being compressed.{nl} High level of safety also in the third row of seats{nl}Since this type of vehicle is popular among large families, Volvo Cars has put a great{nl}deal of attention into developing the third row of seats. It is designed so that not only{nl}children, but also adults up to a height of approximately 160 cm can sit comfortably,{nl}without compromising on safety. The two seats in the third row have an extremely{nl}robust design and are positioned above the rear axle, which contributes to reducing the{nl}risk of injury in side impact collisions. Furthermore, the Volvo XC90 has been fitted with{nl}an enhanced inflatable curtain that also extends to the third row of seats, which was a{nl}unique solution when it was introduced.{nl} In order to provide adequate space between the seats and the outside of the car, the{nl}third row’s seats are somewhat smaller than the other seats in the car. The amount of{nl}space behind the seats is also generous, primarily due to the efficiently compact way in{nl}which the engine is mounted, which creates space for a proportionately long cabin.{nl}Smaller children are best seated on the integrated booster cushion in the centre{nl}position of the second row of seats. This seat can also be moved forward approximately{nl}300 millimetres to create closer contact between the child and its parents in the front{nl}seats.{nl} With the XC90, Volvo Cars also shown consideration for other road-users such as{nl}pedestrians and cyclists. The smoothly rounded front and the ample space between the{nl}engine and bonnet contribute to reducing the risk of injury in a collision. The frontal{nl}structure is also designed to help reduce the risk of damage to smaller vehicles in the{nl}event of a collision.{nl} Only transverse engines{nl}All engines in the Volvo XC90 are transversely mounted in the engine bay, which{nl}contributes to both a roomy cabin and protective safety. A transversely mounted engine{nl}takes minimal space in the length of the car, thereby providing a more effective{nl}deformation zone.{nl} Thanks to its extremely compact format, it has also been possible to transversely{nl}mount Volvo’s newly developed and highly efficient six-cylinder in-line engine, which is{nl}now available in the XC90. The complete engine unit, including the six-speed automatic{nl}gearbox, is only 3 mm longer than Volvo’s five-cylinder equivalent. Its total length is{nl}625 mm.{nl} The engine’s compact format has been achieved by placing the auxiliary components,{nl}such as the steering servo pump and air conditioning compressor, behind the engine, in{nl}the space above the gearbox. Drive is provided via gears on the rear end of the{nl}crankshaft. This solution is called READ – Rear End Ancillary Drive. The alternator is{nl}directly driven and mounted on the engine block. The vibration damper, which{nl}compensates for vibrations in the six-cylinder engine’s relatively long crankshaft, has{nl}been built into the engine block.{nl} Preventive safety{nl}In addition to comprehensive collision protection, the XC90 was fitted from the start with{nl}a number of advanced systems to prevent accidents. Among these are the previously{nl}mentioned RSC (Roll Stability Control), which acts to stabilise the car if there is a rollover{nl}risk. The XC90 is also fitted with Volvo’s stability system DSTC (Dynamic Stability{nl}and Traction Control), which by reducing engine torque and applying well balanced brake{nl}force when necessary, contributes to reducing the risk of skidding.{nl}“The system contributes to safer driving in most situations,” says Ingrid Skogsmo.{nl}“And when{nl}we now introduce the new Volvo XC90, we will also present several systems that further{nl}enhance preventive safety. We have put particular focus on driver control.”{nl} Active Bi-Xenon Light – turning headlamps{nl}In order to provide the best possible vision when driving in darkness on winding roads,{nl}Volvo Cars is introducing Active Bi-Xenon Lights – moving headlamps that follow the{nl}bends in the road. A mini-processor is used to measure and analyse a number of{nl}parameters and optimises the beam of light to the situation. The headlamps can be{nl}turned up to 15 degrees in both directions, a total of 30 degrees, thereby enabling them{nl}to illuminate a longer stretch of road in curves. To prolong the system’s service life, the{nl}function is automatically disengaged in daylight.{nl} BLIS offers better driver control{nl}The Volvo XC90 is also fitted with BLIS (Blind Spot Information System). BLIS uses{nl}cameras mounted in the door mirrors to register if another vehicle is in the blind spot at{nl}the side of the car.{nl} If this is the case, an indicator lamp illuminates near the mirror to warn the driver and{nl}to increase the possibility of making the correct decision. In this way, BLIS helps give{nl}the driver better control of the driving situation.{nl}Park Assist Camera – an extra eye to the rear{nl}With anyone who might be behind the car in mind, and to make parking easier, Volvo{nl}Cars is now introducing the Park Assist Camera. It is an advanced function that not only{nl}provides the driver with an extra eye towards the rear but also shows the vehicle’s{nl}intended path prior to reversing. A wide-angle camera monitors the area behind the car.{nl}The image is displayed on the navigation system’s screen on the dashboard. The camera{nl}angle is set to show the entire area without excessive distortion of the perspective. The{nl}screen also provides guiding lines marked on the surface over which the car will move{nl}when reversing. The guiding lines follow the turn of the steering wheel to help the driver{nl}steer properly. The Park Assist Camera is a fully integrated function in the car, and is{nl}expected to be available to customers in the autumn of 2006.{nl}“The Volvo XC90 has become a benchmark for safety in an SUV,” says Ingrid Skogsmo.“But the fact that safety was uniquely high when the car was launched does not mean{nl}that we have become complacent. All of the changes and new features that we are{nl}introducing have been evaluated from a safety perspective. This means that the XC90 is{nl}still one of the absolutely safest SUVs on the market.”{nl}Descriptions and facts in this press material relate to Volvo Cars’ international car range. Vehicle specifications{nl}may vary from one contry to another and may be altered without prior notification. {nl}Source: Volvo Cars, UK