With the turn of the new century way back in 2000, Volvo entered the market without a fast car that appealed to a younger audience. After a few years of developing and RND, Volvo came out with a car no one saw coming. Volvo announced that in the summer of 2003 there would be a new trim to the S60 and V70 Volvo cars. Both trim levels would relieve an R version, which was faster and more track oriented than street driving. While the cars were new and uncertain to do well, in Volvo’s eyes they sold like hot cakes.
The S60 R and V70 R both came equipped with 300 horsepower 2.5L Inline 5 turbocharged motors. Those motors came mated to either a Five or Six speed automatic transmission, and the legendary 6 speed manual transmission sought out by all enthusiasts. The S60 R and V70 R were loved for many reasons by the public, including the comfortable leather interiors, spacious trunk room, practicality, and the very new and ahead of its time suspension stiffening system. Along with what the people knew these cars had, there were things people didn’t know about that Volvo hid, like the track mode you could activate by pressing the traction control button four times in the car.
Although the S60 R and V70 R were both successful in their targeted markets, they didn’t please Volvo like they were supposed to, so Volvo stopped production of their Swedish sleeper cars in 2007. While Volvo has been known for making very unique and special cars for years, they don’t let it define Volvo as a company. Since about 2011 Volvo really shifted from making cars everyone wanted to more luxurious and bland cars. Which has left a sour taste in many consumers mouths, who are wondering why Volvo went the way they did and if Volvo will go back to their roots.
Volvo may not return to their roots and the fun side of their empire, so all the people can do is wait and see. Hopefully Volvo does decide to go out with one last hoorah before all that the new car companies are selling is electric vehicles.
