Volvo to limit the top speed of its cars to 180 kmph

pkulkarni.2106 · 5th March 2019, 11:19

Just read this article, which claims that Volvo is planning to limit the top speed of all of it's cars to 180 kmph (112 mph).
This cap on the top speed will be implemented from year 2021.

Quote:

Volvo announced on Monday that it will be limiting the top speed on all of its vehicles to 180 km/h (112 mph) in a bid to reduce traffic fatalities. The new speed limit will be implemented on all model year 2021 cars, the company said.

https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/4/18...mph-kmh-models

blackwasp · 5th March 2019, 13:44

Volvo has announced that all its cars will come with a 180 km/h speed limit from 2020. The move is part of the company's target to achieve zero serious injuries or fatalities in a new Volvo by 2020.

According to Volvo, technology improvements alone will not help in achieving zero serious injuries or fatalities. The Swedish carmaker will now focus on driver behaviour as well. The company has identified 3 potential areas of improvement to help achieve their goal - Speeding, Intoxication and Distracted driving. Of these, they claim that speeding is the most prominent one.

Volvo is also looking to enforce speed limits around schools and hospitals using geo-fencing and smart speed control. Data from the NHTSA reveals that 25% of all traffic fatalities in the US in 2017 were caused by speeding.

The carmaker is also expected to present ideas to tackle intoxication and distraction at a safety event which is scheduled to take place in Gothenburg, Sweden on March 20, 2019.

Volvo to limit the top speed of its cars to 180 kmph-2018volvoxc4003.jpg

Link to the Team-BHP News

reihem · 5th March 2019, 14:00

It’s very hard to argue with this logic without sounding reckless or brash. But, as a loyal Volvo customer this move strikes me as an infringement on my personal freedom. Also, their decision not to impose this speed cap on polestar vehicles confuses me, are polestar owners somehow superior to the rest ? Atleast let owners turn it off on the track ? Geely should intervene, they’ve done a splendid job rebuilding the brand thus far.

Volvo to limit the top speed of its cars to 180 kmph-7df969f16bb74d8986c60a984969db7b.jpeg

Durango Dude · 5th March 2019, 14:05

Volvo should go ahead and fit 175 section tyre's to their vehicles and their clients will automatically restrict speed to less than 60 mph.

CaptainPrice · 5th March 2019, 14:16

I liked the geo-fencing idea. I also liked that Volvo is focusing on reducing cases of Distraction and Intoxication.

Regarding the top-speed limiter - a concept I was only aware of since playing NFS Underground 2, wherein I removed the said component on my Civic - it is a fact that electronic devices can be manipulated (or removed). Those who want to go fast will always find a way. And placing a restriction on speed only increases the value so-called coolness factor when that limit is overcome.

If anything, The move to limit speeds will only increase business for tuners.

Furthermore, Volvo now only needs to manufacture parts to conform to a lower, possibly inferior, standard because of the lower speed limit. So possibly lesser cost, and therefore more profit.

superbad · 5th March 2019, 14:17

180 kmph seems arbitrary, imo (maybe volvo has done a case study which includes speed statistics or something). This decision holds no logic for me, since fatal accidents are possible even at a speed of 60 kmph. In case of an accident, 180 kmph is as good as 250 or 300 kmph wrt chances of survival - low. If speed limiting is the sole criterion for preventing accidents, then all vehicles should be limited to a speed of 15-20 kmph.
It is a well known fact that the driver is the main cause of accidents. How about focusing more energy on driver awareness & sense of responsibility? Volvo should also focus on autonomous safety aids which can recognise an impending accident (sudden braking, too much roll/pitch/yaw, sudden loud of traction in a wheel) & transmit necessary signals to the system to counter the same (sounds like a sci-fi movie yet I believe current autonomous tech is progressing towards the same).

Does this also mean Volvo will impose a power limit on all their future vehicles? Since what is the point of a 2 L+ V6 if it can't go beyond 180 kmph?

Axe77 · 5th March 2019, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durango Dude

Volvo should go ahead and fit 175 section tyre's to their vehicles and their clients will automatically restrict speed to less than 60 mph.

Haha - although, in India, the last thing customers understand is their vehicle's ability to handle speeds. I've seen Activas being ridden like RC 390s (wildly zig zagging while at it of course as any self respecting triple seat rider should ride!) and Maruti 800s / Scorpios etc engaging in 140+ kmph swinging lane change maneuvers.

Geo_Ipe · 5th March 2019, 18:10

Guess the figure 180 kmph is valid in countries where much higher speeds are the norm, for example the Autobahn, where people 'cruise' at speeds in excess of 250 kmph! Number of fatalities can definitely be brought down in such a scenario.

I'm not of the opinion that potential Indian buyers of Volvo need to worry too much. 180 kmph is high enough for all Indian highways (barring maybe one or two), and way higher than the maximum speed limits in our country.

GTO · 7th March 2019, 10:46

Not sure how much of a difference this would make as how many people have ever driven over 180 kmph in their Volvos? And of those, how many met with a fatal accident?

Don't know if this is a PR move, but it could work against Volvo. It'll give them a "Volvo is slower" reputation against the 250 kmph German competitors.

Related trivia: All cars sold in Japan have a 180 kmph speed limiter.

avira_tk · 7th March 2019, 11:37

This is cost cutting in the guise of safety, like Volvo saying 4 cylinder engines are there to reduce emissions. A car that's engineered for 250kmph top speed will be better, I'm surprised Volvo didn't offer to remove the drivetrain and reduce accidents to zero immediately.

Volvo's earlier PR stunt about ICE was a farce, this is along the same lines. They launched the V60 with a diesel engine before the announcement, the S60 sedan was never the popular choice in Europe.

H_Dogg72 · 7th March 2019, 11:46

Cheap lower speed rated tires from factory along with other cost saving.

After all the fun starts after 200kmph

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Not sure how much of a difference this would make as how many people have ever driven over 180 kmph in their Volvos? And of those, how many met with a fatal accident

Related trivia: All cars sold in Japan have a 180 kmph speed limiter.

Well. Big difference in momentum at 180 and 250.
Also don't some cars remove the limiter in Japan when on a racetrack.

Also, speedy peeps will buy polestar or another brand. It's not being forced onto existing cars. Don't really see a problem with it. Heck my polo hits 193. Takes a long while but gets there.
The IS20 gti goes 240 easy peasy. Their cars their choice. No one forcing to buy Volvo.

ButterRider 7 · 14th December 2020, 16:47

While modern cars are mostly packed to the brim with technology that can mitigate chances of an accident, there is no full-proof measure than can prevent such unfortunate - often fatal - instances. And while limiting top speed too may not guarantee safety, it may well be a leap in the right direction. Volvo says its vision for a safer future on roads would next focus on human behaviour to curb instances of driver distraction and intoxication.

5th March 2019, 13:44	#2
blackwasp Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 2,983 Thanked: 26,381 Times View My Garage	re: Volvo to limit the top speed of its cars to 180 kmph Volvo has announced that all its cars will come with a 180 km/h speed limit from 2020. The move is part of the company's target to achieve zero serious injuries or fatalities in a new Volvo by 2020. According to Volvo, technology improvements alone will not help in achieving zero serious injuries or fatalities. The Swedish carmaker will now focus on driver behaviour as well. The company has identified 3 potential areas of improvement to help achieve their goal - Speeding, Intoxication and Distracted driving. Of these, they claim that speeding is the most prominent one. Volvo is also looking to enforce speed limits around schools and hospitals using geo-fencing and smart speed control. Data from the NHTSA reveals that 25% of all traffic fatalities in the US in 2017 were caused by speeding. The carmaker is also expected to present ideas to tackle intoxication and distraction at a safety event which is scheduled to take place in Gothenburg, Sweden on March 20, 2019. Link to the Team-BHP News Last edited by Aditya : 5th March 2019 at 15:02.
	(4) Thanks

5th March 2019, 14:00	#3
reihem BHPian Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Chennai Posts: 299 Thanked: 930 Times	re: Volvo to limit the top speed of its cars to 180 kmph It’s very hard to argue with this logic without sounding reckless or brash. But, as a loyal Volvo customer this move strikes me as an infringement on my personal freedom. Also, their decision not to impose this speed cap on polestar vehicles confuses me, are polestar owners somehow superior to the rest ? Atleast let owners turn it off on the track ? Geely should intervene, they’ve done a splendid job rebuilding the brand thus far. Last edited by reihem : 5th March 2019 at 14:03.
	(4) Thanks

5th March 2019, 14:05	#4
Durango Dude Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,967 Thanked: 5,180 Times View My Garage	re: Volvo to limit the top speed of its cars to 180 kmph Volvo should go ahead and fit 175 section tyre's to their vehicles and their clients will automatically restrict speed to less than 60 mph.
	(2) Thanks

5th March 2019, 14:16	#5
CaptainPrice BHPian Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Bangalore Posts: 92 Thanked: 134 Times	re: Volvo to limit the top speed of its cars to 180 kmph I liked the geo-fencing idea. I also liked that Volvo is focusing on reducing cases of Distraction and Intoxication. Regarding the top-speed limiter - a concept I was only aware of since playing NFS Underground 2, wherein I removed the said component on my Civic - it is a fact that electronic devices can be manipulated (or removed). Those who want to go fast will always find a way. And placing a restriction on speed only increases the value so-called coolness factor when that limit is overcome. If anything, The move to limit speeds will only increase business for tuners. Furthermore, Volvo now only needs to manufacture parts to conform to a lower, possibly inferior, standard because of the lower speed limit. So possibly lesser cost, and therefore more profit.
	(1) Thanks

5th March 2019, 14:17	#6
superbad BHPian Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Pune Posts: 314 Thanked: 994 Times	re: Volvo to limit the top speed of its cars to 180 kmph 180 kmph seems arbitrary, imo (maybe volvo has done a case study which includes speed statistics or something). This decision holds no logic for me, since fatal accidents are possible even at a speed of 60 kmph. In case of an accident, 180 kmph is as good as 250 or 300 kmph wrt chances of survival - low. If speed limiting is the sole criterion for preventing accidents, then all vehicles should be limited to a speed of 15-20 kmph. It is a well known fact that the driver is the main cause of accidents. How about focusing more energy on driver awareness & sense of responsibility? Volvo should also focus on autonomous safety aids which can recognise an impending accident (sudden braking, too much roll/pitch/yaw, sudden loud of traction in a wheel) & transmit necessary signals to the system to counter the same (sounds like a sci-fi movie yet I believe current autonomous tech is progressing towards the same). Does this also mean Volvo will impose a power limit on all their future vehicles? Since what is the point of a 2 L+ V6 if it can't go beyond 180 kmph?
	(1) Thanks

5th March 2019, 18:10	#8
Geo_Ipe Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Vellore Posts: 1,003 Thanked: 3,191 Times View My Garage	re: Volvo to limit the top speed of its cars to 180 kmph Guess the figure 180 kmph is valid in countries where much higher speeds are the norm, for example the Autobahn, where people 'cruise' at speeds in excess of 250 kmph! Number of fatalities can definitely be brought down in such a scenario. I'm not of the opinion that potential Indian buyers of Volvo need to worry too much. 180 kmph is high enough for all Indian highways (barring maybe one or two), and way higher than the maximum speed limits in our country.
	(3) Thanks

7th March 2019, 10:46	#9
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,152 Thanked: 305,509 Times View My Garage	Re: Volvo to limit the top speed of its cars to 180 kmph Not sure how much of a difference this would make as how many people have ever driven over 180 kmph in their Volvos? And of those, how many met with a fatal accident? Don't know if this is a PR move, but it could work against Volvo. It'll give them a "Volvo is slower" reputation against the 250 kmph German competitors. Related trivia: All cars sold in Japan have a 180 kmph speed limiter.
	(5) Thanks

7th March 2019, 11:37	#10
avira_tk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,360 Thanked: 3,216 Times	Re: Volvo to limit the top speed of its cars to 180 kmph This is cost cutting in the guise of safety, like Volvo saying 4 cylinder engines are there to reduce emissions. A car that's engineered for 250kmph top speed will be better, I'm surprised Volvo didn't offer to remove the drivetrain and reduce accidents to zero immediately. Volvo's earlier PR stunt about ICE was a farce, this is along the same lines. They launched the V60 with a diesel engine before the announcement, the S60 sedan was never the popular choice in Europe.
	(1) Thanks

14th December 2020, 16:47	#12
ButterRider 7 BANNED Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Pune Posts: 68 Thanked: 33 Times	Re: Volvo to limit the top speed of its cars to 180 kmph While modern cars are mostly packed to the brim with technology that can mitigate chances of an accident, there is no full-proof measure than can prevent such unfortunate - often fatal - instances. And while limiting top speed too may not guarantee safety, it may well be a leap in the right direction. Volvo says its vision for a safer future on roads would next focus on human behaviour to curb instances of driver distraction and intoxication.
	() Thanks