It's
some years since Volvo raced their estate cars in the British Touring Car
Championship, but the enthusiasm for creating sporting estates remains. In time
for Frankfurt Volvo has given its V70 a makeover in the guise of Volvo’s
Performance Concept Car 2 (PCC2) – a vision of a possible future high
performance Volvo estate car.
Like Volvo’s first Performance Concept Car (based on an S60), PCC2 has a
300 bhp, 2.4-litre turbo engine producing a hefty 296 lb-ft of torque, with a
6-speed gearbox, electronically controlled four-wheel drive, 19in wheels, and
one of the world’s most advanced continuously adjustable chassis.
Its advanced Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept (FOUR-C) system offers
three modes (Comfort, Sport or Advanced Sport) for enthusiastic and sporty
driving on demand in a car that can be equally at home driving to the
supermarket fully laden with screaming brats and the labrador.
Volvo’s racing pedigree can be seen in many of the PCC2’s features, such
as the 19in BBS magnesium wheels shod with 245/35-19 tyres straight from the
BTCC Volvos, while the front spoiler is designed with an additional
stability-enhancing aerofoil running from its lower lip along the side of the
car and up to the rear spoiler.
Volvo's
chassis control system has been developed in co-operation with Monroe and Ohlins
Racing AB. As with similar systems from other manufactures, it monitors the
precise position of each wheel 500 times per second to optimise the car’s
handling and suspension by constantly adapting the suspension’s settings and
damping characteristics.
Volvo’s Multiplex processor system, together with the electronically
controlled all-wheel drive, helps the FOUR-C system to foresee events before
they actually occur. For instance, if the driver brakes firmly the system will
inform the dampers a few milliseconds before the brake pads actually contact the
discs and calculate how much the car will pitch and instantly reset the damping
action.
"We’re not using four-wheel drive for enhanced off-road ability in
this application, but optimising it for superb roadholding and dependable
stability," says Hans Nilsson, project manager of the Volvo Performance
Concept Car.
"The work we have done with the Performance Concept Car will help us
to choose the right path for a feasible high-performance estate model in the
future," he concluded.
