September 27th, 1999
 
World’s most desirable wagons to take centre stage
Celebrating Volvo’s continuing success with its station wagons,
the multi-award winning Volvo V40 and V70 will be on display at the Sydney International
Motor Show in October.
Volvo holds close to 60% market share in Australia for European luxury wagons, due to
their winning  combination of versatility, space and outstanding performance in all driving
conditions.
Volvo’s V70 is the largest of the European luxury wagons, offering a vast cargo
space, 1.81 metres from front to back. This extends to 2.75 metres when the front
passenger seat is folded forward.
The introduction in 1997 of a compact variant - the V40 - enhanced Volvo’s
strength as a luxury wagon.
Both the V70 and the V40 have been acclaimed by the Italian organisation Automobilia as
the "World’s Most  Beautiful Wagon."
The Volvo wagon is not necessarily a status symbol - more a life choice - providing
independence and freedom, whilst reflecting the values and personalities of the families
that own them.
GST-adjusted prices for the V40 start from $39,950, and $54,156 for the V70.
A strong wagon tradition
For almost 50 years, Volvo has been producing
wagons with families in mind.
The wagons are in a class of their own for safety as well as being practical, roomy,
reliable, and comfortable.
Volvo produced its first wagon in 1953 - the Volvo Duett - which featured the same
infrastructure as its sedan predecessor, the PV 444, with a rear-wheel suspension which
made superstructures possible.
This car formed the foundations on which all Volvo wagons have been developed and
refined.
Safety for children
Volvo has been developing equipment to enhance the level of child safety in Volvo cars for
the past 35 years.
New for 2000 are the three integrated child booster seats making the Volvo V70 the
ultimate family wagon. The compact V40 features two integrated child seats.
The seats are suitable for children between the ages of three and ten and ensure they
sit high enough to benefit from the protection of the head restraints and seat belts, as
well as providing support for feet for very young children.
The seats are all designed for ease of use and can be folded up or down by the children
themselves.
Compare this...
In a comparison of equivalent wagons, the Volvo V40 and V70
are an incredibly popular choice for Australians, outselling all other brands combined by
604 vehicles.
| Make |
Volume
(YTD Aug 99) |
| Volvo V70 |
578 |
| Volvo V40 |
277 |
| Audi A4 |
123 |
| Saab 9-5 |
116 |
| Volkswagen Passat |
99 |
| Mercedes Benz C Class |
61 |
| Mercedes Benz E Class |
60 |
| Peugeot 406 |
45 |
| BMW 528 Touring |
44 |
| Audi A6 |
41 |
| Citroen Xantia |
15 |
| Total Volvo |
855 |
| Total |
1,419 |
| Volvo % |
59% |
Safety, safety, safety
The safety features which come standard in Volvo wagons are
designed to ensure maximum protection for both driver and passengers in all situations.
Standard safety equipment for 2000 in the V70 now includes Whiplash Protection System
(WHIPS), and higher side airbags for front occupants, as well as the pre-existing two
front airbags. The wagons also feature ABS with electronic braking distribution, three
point inertia reel belts for all seats, and auto height adjustable head restraints.
The V40 incorporates most of the safety features of the V70. Both wagons feature
integrated child booster seats, two in the more compact V40 and now three in the larger
V70.
Providing additional security at night is the standard Home Safe Lighting (new in the
V40), offering occupants illumination for enough time to reach their doorstep.
One in every three wagons sold in Europe is a Volvo
During the last 10 year period 1989 –1998, Volvo accounted on average for 33% of
the sales of large estates in Europe, thus making one in every three wagons sold in Europe
a Volvo.
Volvo 33%
Opel 24%
Mercedes 14%
Audi 13%
BMW 11%
And the award goes to... Volvo!
Volvo wagons have always had top safety ratings, regardless
of the rating measure used. This is the result of methodical research and a high degree of
expertise in the field of automotive safety.
Volvo wagons have also been recognised for their modern design, by twice being
presented with the Most Beautiful Wagon in the World award, by Italian magazine
"Automobilia".
Since the first 240 wagon received "The Best Family Car" award in the USA in
1975, Volvo wagons have received steady commendation over the years.
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