Two words you don’t often hear together are “Volvo” and “excitement.”  With the snazzy (there’s another word you don’t often hear) Volvo C30, drivers are in for a new kind of Volvo, hopefully a harbinger of things to come.
The C30 oozes cool and hip from any direction.  The large glass hatch, which contributes to excellent visibility from the driver’s seat, gives the rear a unique look that recalls the highly regarded Volvo P1800, ca. 1971, which was Roger Moore’s conveyance of choice in The Saint.  The front, which retains traditional …

Station wagons have become so untrendy that at this point they may be becoming trendy again.  Those drivers who do want to give the wagons a chance will want to consider the Volvo V70, which shares its platform and drivetrain with the S80 sedan (reviewed in our October 2007 issue).  The V70 was all new for 2008 and features SUV-like cargo room, decent fuel economy of a sedan, and an array of standard features including a three-way split rear seat (40-20-40).  The Convenience Package includes a humidity sensor for the …

DRIVE TIME – TOP DOWN
Summer. A time when the business traveler’s mind turns to… convertibles!
Nothing says summer like a bright red convertible.  Unless it’s a medium-blue convertible. Or a metallic grey roadster.
In the automobile’s earliest days, all cars were open; the open car continues to be seen as sporty and adventurous and perfect for hot summer days.  The rest of the time, they were drafty, noisy, and considered less safe than cars with metal roofs.
Starting with Mercedes-Benz in 1998, car makers have found a way of marrying the driving pleasure …

A rational choice for the business traveler
The Swedish Vikings were among the first business travelers.  While Vikings from Denmark and Norway conquered and colonized to the west and southwest, Swedish Vikings traded to the east and southeast.
The Vikings were also renowned for their shipbuilding abilities, building vessels that were seaworthy and strong.  Today, this ability is most visible in cars from the region, such as those from Volvo, a company founded by two Swedes, Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson, in 1924.  Their plan was to build cars more suited to …

FOR FORTY YEARS, AMERICAN BMW BUYERS HAVE BEEN TAKING THEIR BRAND-NEW CARS ON A FINE VACATION
Since the 1960s, several thousand Americans each year have taken a trip to Munich, Germany with one goal in mind.  Unlike the other American tourists, they are not there for the beer, the Schnitzel, the museums and art galleries, and the Gemütlichkeit alone.  The real reason for the trip: to pick up a new BMW at BMW’s factory delivery center.
For years, BMW has been among a handful of European automakers that offer Americans the option …