Tag Archives: saloon

News

Volvo discontinues saloon and estate cars in the UK, focusing on SUVs

Volvo has made the decision to exclusively sell SUVs in the UK, discontinuing its saloon and estate cars.

The Volvo S60 saloon, as well as the Volvo V60 and Volvo V90 estates, are no longer displayed on the company’s online configurator. However, customers can still order pre-configured versions from dealers.

Volvo had previously removed the S90 saloon, V60 and V90 Cross Country estate models from sale as part of a range consolidation effort. The S60 was temporarily removed and later made available for orders again.

The South Carolina plant, where the S60 is manufactured, is currently undergoing renovations to enable the production of electric SUVs for Volvo and its brand Polestar, with plans to launch in 2024.

It’s important to note that the discontinuation of estates does not affect the production of custom vehicles supplied to the UK’s emergency services, including police forces. The S90, V60, V90, and their Cross Country variants will still be produced with specific authority specifications.

These vehicles are designed differently from customer models, featuring enhanced performance, higher payload capacity, upgraded brakes, and the removal of the 112mph speed limiter.

In a statement to Autocar, Volvo explained that their product offer is rapidly evolving, with a focus on full electrification and the adoption of new platforms and technologies. As a result, they have decided to remove additional models from the UK line-up, including the S60, V60, and V90. The demand for SUVs is growing, while interest in their upcoming fully electric EX30 and EX90 models is strong. In contrast, the demand for saloon and estate models in the UK has significantly declined, leading to the decision to discontinue them in the country.

Car review

Tesla Model S Plaid

The Tesla Model S Plaid is an impressive electric vehicle in terms of its drivetrain engineering. It can go from 0 to 62 mph in 2.5 seconds, although not quite as fast as Tesla’s claimed time of 2.1 seconds. The car’s efficiency is also noteworthy, with a 3.3 miles per kilowatt-hour rating, resulting in a range of 373 miles. Furthermore, the Model S Plaid can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 29 minutes.

Tesla has prioritized the drivetrain and the 17-inch touchscreen in the Model S Plaid. However, there are some aspects where compromises have been made. The interior, for example, used to have a less luxurious and more basic feel to it. Although it still falls short of the indulgence of a Porsche, it has improved and now offers better materials and a more practical design. The interior is minimalist, with Tesla even removing the column stalks for the wipers, indicators, and drive selector. Surprisingly, most people don’t miss those stalks, but some may feel that traditional controls could provide a slightly better user experience.

One area where the Tesla Model S Plaid falls short compared to the Porsche Taycan is in terms of chassis and refinement. The car is quite noisy on the motorway, and while the ride is satisfactory, it’s not exceptional. There are also noticeable low-level vibrations through the steering wheel, making it less enjoyable to explore the car’s handling capabilities.

One of the biggest issues with the Model S Plaid is its steering. While the round wheel (instead of the controversial yoke) is well-weighted and has a self-centering feature, it doesn’t provide much feedback about the level of grip. Despite having torque vectoring capabilities, the car doesn’t make you feel the effects of it significantly.

When pushed to its limits, the front of the Model S Plaid tends to understeer, even with the stability control system actively intervening. Overall, the car’s size and weight distribution can make it feel less confident on winding roads.

First Drive

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 2023 first drive

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio super saloon has received positive reviews since its launch in 2016. It was a much-awaited performance car from the Italian brand that could compete with the best in its class. The car’s rear-driven handling, compactness on the road, and powerful Ferrari-derived V6 engine were widely recognized.

Alfa Romeo has taken a unique approach in the performance car market by making the car simpler to make it better. The Quadrifoglio version receives the same updates as the regular Giulia, including new headlights, a new radiator grille, new digital instruments, and an updated infotainment system. Additionally, the engine power has been increased to 514bhp, and the suspension and driveline have been recalibrated to give the car a ‘mini-GTA feel’ according to Alfa performance engineering lead Domenico Bagnasco.

The ‘100 Anniversario’ version of the car celebrates the centenary of Alfa’s green cloverleaf iconography and features gold-edged badging and detailing. Only 100 units will be produced for the global market, and all are already sold in the UK.

To address the previous issues with on-track performance and handling, Alfa has made significant changes to the car’s mechanical specifications. The electronically controlled ‘eDiff’ has been replaced with a more conventional mechanical limited-slip differential. Other changes include increased anti-roll bar stiffness on both axles and firmer calibration of the electronic dampers at their firmest setting. These changes improve the rear axle’s response and consistency in limit handling with the ESC switched off.

The Giulia still maintains its appealing low driving position, well-designed cockpit and controls, and a sense of agility on the road. Despite the ‘mini-GTA’ billing, the car doesn’t feel overly aggressive. The ride and damper calibration are comfortable in the ‘natural’ driving mode, the steering is light but direct, and the engine and gearbox are generally smooth in normal traffic.