The Volvo S70 and V70: Continuing the Volvo Tradition of Constant Improvement

ROCKLEIGH, NJ -- When Volvo introduced the S70 and V70 series in January 1997, the vehicles were seen as major all-round improvements over their predecessors, the award-winning 850 model line. The new cars were dramatically restyled both inside and out with all-new sheet metal and an entirely new interior which features refined Scandinavian styling. The S70 and V70 also offered new levels of overall safety engineering as well as improved road dynamics and comfort. A total of over 1,800 changes were made to make these cars even more successful.

For 1999, Volvo has continued its philosophy of constant improvement through the evolution of design and engineering and the integration of new technologies to existing product lines. Major improvements have been made to the engine and its management systems, the electrical system and to the braking system. Perhaps most importantly, Volvo has once again taken a major step forward in the area of occupant protection with a third-generation upgrade to SIPS, Volvo's patented, awardwinning side impact protection system. Volvo pioneered the side impact air bag, the occupant protection device most widely associated with the system, in 1994.

Volvo's current nomenclature system, which debuted with the 1998 models, is based on platform designations that denote both the type of model and its series lineage. This numbering system continues to expand for 1999 with the introduction of the new S80 series. The letter "S" signifies the model is a sedan, while "V," representing versatility, indicates the vehicle is a wagon ("C" denotes both coupe and convertible). The number following the letter provides a sense of the platform size. For example, the S80 is larger than the S70, which is in turn larger than the S40, Volvo's small platform offering which is not currently available in North America. The S90 & V90, after a run of nearly 16 years dating back to the 760 series, introduced in 1982, ceased production in the Spring of 1998.

VOLVO = SAFETY: IMPROVED AGAIN FOR 1999

Nowhere is Volvo's philosophy of continual evolution more apparent than in the improvements made for 1999 in the areas of both passive and dynamic safety. Those include:

• System and performance upgrades made to its world-famous Side Impact Protection System (SIPS)

• Two trigger settings for front air bags deployment

• Automatic door unlocking feature with air bag deployment

• Stability and Traction Control (STC) to provide sure acceleration from a stand still and at speed on slippery roads (T5 turbocharged front wheel-drive only)

• Volvo Traction Control System (TRACS) available on all non-turbocharged front wheel-drive models

• Antilock brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution to maximize brake performance under all conditions and all loads

• Fender mounted turn indicators

• Clutch interlock system (manual gearbox only)

• Cruise Control "On" in-dash indicator light
  

For 1999, the SIPS system has been extensively re-designed to provide enhanced head protection in side impacts. While the lower section of the bag continues to help protect the chest and thorax by limiting the rapid lateral acceleration, which is the primary cause of injury, an upper section has been added to protect the head. This addition helps protect the driver or passenger's head from impacting the vehicle structure. Deployment of this larger bag takes place in less than 25 milliseconds.

The deployment mechanism has also been modified. The side impact sensor is now of an electrical type and has been relocated to the "B" pillar. The sensor, once activated, sends a signal to the central Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) control module that in turn activates the appropriate air bags. The sensor itself consists of a microprocessor and an acceleration sensor mounted on a circuit board. The front seatbelt buckles have new Hall-type switches to help ensure better signal exchange.

The "S" in the SIPS acronym stands for system. And the air bags are but part of the overall SIPS system. The B-pillars, the most important link in the system, were reinforced during the 1998 S70 and V70 re-design, in order to help further reduce the risk of severe chest injuries. Additionally, the interior panels on these pillars were given softer padding to help provide more effective head protection.

New for 1999 is a dual stage deployment air bag triggering system. The first level is for low speed frontal accidents and utilizes only the pyrotechnic pretensioners if the occupants are belted and only the airbag if they are not. At the second trigger level, for higher speeds, the pyrotechnic pretensioners and the airbag are utilized if the occupants are belted and just the airbag if they are unbelted. A pretensioner is a device that helps remove belt slack and is deployed by a sensor that also deploys the front air bags.

* With the S70 and V70, Volvo is aiming to reach customers with high requirements for design, safety, driving pleasure and quality.