Design Contest: NDA wins 2009 LA Design Challenge

A future where environmentalists and car enthusiasts - not to mention sober-minded adults and thrill-seeking young people - all coexist in harmony just might be possible with Nissan's V2G concept vehicle. The hypothetical design study, which runs on a futuristic grid of electric roadways but can also be customized for 'off grid' joy riding, won the 2009 LA Auto Show Design Challenge for the way it embodies this year's 'Youthmobile 2030' theme. The focus was to create vehicles that would appeal to a generation of young drivers raised on cell phones and social media.

New Volvo V40: Strong residual values predicted

New Volvo V40 – Strong residuals Volvo has had good news from the fleet industry with strong residuals forecast for the new 2012 Volvo V40 ahead of first customer cars. We’ve been very impressed with what we’ve seen of the new Volvo V40; it’s a car that is right on the money in its style, its pricing and its range (although we’d like to see something more exciting at the top end). And now, with production of the V40 under way and the first customer cars expected to arrive in the UK in September, Volvo has had very good news from the fleet industry and the people who set residual values for car finance.

Volvo Flywheel KERS hybrid on the way

Volvo Flywheel KERS - more power, less fuesl, low cost Volvo looks like it’s making a big jump ahead in the ongoing battle to make cars more economical, with plans to roll out a Hybrid Flywheel KERS system to boost performance and cut fuel consumption in the process The innovative system Volvo are trialing is similar in principle to the push-button boost used in Formula 1 cars. Volvo say that their efficient and lightweight system will give a four pot the feel of a six-pot and cut fuel consumption by up to 201% Which are claims we’ve head before when it comes to hybrid technology. And, as long as the car is driven in a very gentle fashion, many of the hybrid claims are true.