mikeyb
Apr 12, 2007, 11:38 AM
http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/image/2007/Q1/030920071426423743.jpg
http://www.caranddriver.com/dailyautoinsider/12801/volvo-drops-r-variants-for-2008.html
Swedish safety king takes a step away from sporty.
The Volvo alphabet will no longer include the letter R, as the Swedish automaker has decided to shelve its sporty R-badged cars (all two of them) once production of 2007 models ceases, which should happen by July. The S60R sedan and the V70R wagon were hot-rod versions of more run-of-the-mill stuff—a concept we fully support—intended to help convince consumers that Volvo is more than just airbags, ultracomfy seats, and swoopy center consoles. But cars that don’t sell can’t convince people of anything, and, in the end, the cars ultimately failed to reach even the modest sales targets set by Volvo—just 3800 units annually, the company says—with only 2150 sold combined last year.
So why didn’t they sell? The problem in a nutshell: folks who buy Volvos aren’t generally speed freaks, and speed freaks, conversely, don’t generally find themselves wandering into a Volvo showroom. It takes a special person to want a fast Volvo—we’re talking the kinds of people who loved Crystal Pepsi—and there just aren’t enough of them around.
As enthusiasts, we can’t say we’re terribly sorry to see either of the cars go. Sure, the run-down sounded good—300 horsepower, all-wheel drive, adjustable shocks, a six-speed manual—but the cars were dull as dirt to drive in comparison to most sport sedans, and they just couldn’t compete with the more soulful and spine-tingling rides from companies with more established performance reputations, such as BMW and Infiniti. So long, R cars, we hardly knew ye—if airbags and safety sensors could make up for driving excitement, you might still be around.
http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/image/2007/Q1/030920071426439205.jpg
http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/image/2007/Q1/030920071426430800.jpg
http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/image/2007/Q1/030920071426473916.jpg
Just very sad. There is two Rs in my family. Great sport sedan and wagon.
http://www.caranddriver.com/dailyautoinsider/12801/volvo-drops-r-variants-for-2008.html
Swedish safety king takes a step away from sporty.
The Volvo alphabet will no longer include the letter R, as the Swedish automaker has decided to shelve its sporty R-badged cars (all two of them) once production of 2007 models ceases, which should happen by July. The S60R sedan and the V70R wagon were hot-rod versions of more run-of-the-mill stuff—a concept we fully support—intended to help convince consumers that Volvo is more than just airbags, ultracomfy seats, and swoopy center consoles. But cars that don’t sell can’t convince people of anything, and, in the end, the cars ultimately failed to reach even the modest sales targets set by Volvo—just 3800 units annually, the company says—with only 2150 sold combined last year.
So why didn’t they sell? The problem in a nutshell: folks who buy Volvos aren’t generally speed freaks, and speed freaks, conversely, don’t generally find themselves wandering into a Volvo showroom. It takes a special person to want a fast Volvo—we’re talking the kinds of people who loved Crystal Pepsi—and there just aren’t enough of them around.
As enthusiasts, we can’t say we’re terribly sorry to see either of the cars go. Sure, the run-down sounded good—300 horsepower, all-wheel drive, adjustable shocks, a six-speed manual—but the cars were dull as dirt to drive in comparison to most sport sedans, and they just couldn’t compete with the more soulful and spine-tingling rides from companies with more established performance reputations, such as BMW and Infiniti. So long, R cars, we hardly knew ye—if airbags and safety sensors could make up for driving excitement, you might still be around.
http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/image/2007/Q1/030920071426439205.jpg
http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/image/2007/Q1/030920071426430800.jpg
http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/image/2007/Q1/030920071426473916.jpg
Just very sad. There is two Rs in my family. Great sport sedan and wagon.