For immediate release
TORONTO (March 17, 2005) – In a month where temperatures begin to rise and road traction begins to improve, Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd. sees the most interest in its AWD-equipped vehicles.
“Contrary to what people might expect, Volvo retailers sell more all-wheel drive vehicles in March, when the snow and ice start melting, than at any other point in the year,” said Paul Cummings, President and CEO of Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd. “All-wheel drive makes perfect sense in the winter, but this spike in March illustrates that Canadians also recognize the year-round benefits of the technology.”
In March 2004, Volvo Canada sold a total of 727 AWD-equipped vehicles, the most in any single month in company history.
Cummings said that sales of the S60 AWD fair particularly well in March. “Spring is always a busy time for the automotive industry,” he said. “That said, sales of the S60 all-wheel-drive spikes significantly, to the tune of 20 per cent, over the second most popular month for all-wheel drive: September.”
Introduced in 2001, the S60 AWD represented a substantial change for Volvo Car Corporation. First, it brought the company’s new stylish design language – proposed in the ECC Concept Car and brought into production with the S80 luxury sedan – to the sportier, mid-size luxury class. But more importantly, it ushered-in the Swedish company’s current wide-scale commitment to AWD technology. Since that time, Volvo Canada has sold more than 2,321 AWD-equipped versions of its mid-size luxury sedan, representing a substantial 19 per cent of all S60 sales.
“We identified all-wheel drive as an important part of the security of ownership that many of our buyers seek in a Volvo,” said Cummings. “But its appeal goes far beyond peace of mind on a snowy road. All-wheel drive gives families the ability to unlock a host of recreation and sporting adventures that are increasingly a part of an active lifestyle. Sure, it’s security, but the appeal of AWD is also safety and performance and adventure.”
For the first time in company history, Volvo’s all-wheel drive system is available as option or as standard equipment in all 2005 Volvo vehicles. “Since Volvo began selling vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive in 1996, the popularity of the option has grown to the point where the Volvo Cars brand is becoming synonymous with all-wheel drive,” added Cummings.
Under most driving circumstances, the system sends most of the engine’s power to the front wheels. The instant that the front wheels begin to lose traction and spin, up to 95 per cent of engine power is introduced to the rear.
Of particular benefit to consumers is the fact that Volvo AWD operates automatically and completely independent of the driver. Many Volvo drivers will never know that an AWD system has just helped them around a slippery corner.
Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd. is part of the Volvo Car Corporation of Göteborg, Sweden. The company provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to the 43 Volvo automobile retailers across the country. The company’s product range includes the flagship S80 luxury sedan, the versatile V70 wagon, the S60 sports sedan, and an XC-line of vehicles that includes the rugged XC70 and the award-winning XC90 sport utility vehicle. For 2005, the company is introducing the completely redesigned S40 sports sedan and V50 sportswagon, providing performance for a new generation.
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