“With the active chassis, we can get more out of the car," says Hans Folkesson, Senior Vice President, Research and Development. "The technology improves better driving properties in all situations +óGé¼GÇ£ both safer and more entertaining."

The chassis setting adapts automatically to suit the current driving situation, which considerably improves both handling and ride comfort. If the driver is more active when steering, accelerating or braking, the system responds at lightning speed to increase damping force and thus control the car's body movements.

In more sedate progress, damping action is much less frequent to better isolate the car's occupants from irregularities in the road surface. This approach combines the best of two worlds +óGé¼GÇ£ maximum control and thus safety, and at the same time the best possible comfort.

Gen II Four-C
The active chassis is based on Volvo's Four-C technology in combination with DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control). This is an advanced self-regulating chassis system that uses a number of sensors to continuously monitor the car's behaviour. In mere fractions of a second, the shock absorbers are reset to suit the current on-road situation.

“What we are now unveiling is the second-generation Four-C," says Folkesson. "During the process of tailoring the technology to suit the S60, V70 and XC70 models, we improved the hardware and the software, gaining smoother damping control in the bargain."

Four-C adjusts chassis settings to suit the car's speed. The faster the car is travelling, the firmer the damping. This offers the driver better car control even at high speeds. This technology also reduces the body's tendency to kneel at the front, squat at the rear or roll during hard braking, sudden acceleration or fast avoidance manoeuvres respectively.

The Volvo S80 luxury sedan and the high-performance R-versions of S60 and V70 also benefit from improvements made to the second-generation Four-C.

Select Sport or Comfort
For MY05 models fitted with Four-C active chassis (with the exception of R models), two chassis settings are featured. At the touch of a button, the driver can alter the car's driving behaviour to suit personal preferences.

SPORT gives more controlled body movements, faster steering response and more road contact.

COMFORT gives a supple, more comfortable ride with calm, harmonious body movement.

In an emergency situation, however, the setting selected makes no difference +óGé¼GÇ£ Four-C is programmed to assist the driver by automatically stabilising the car.

Modified chassis properties
The active chassis gives the car better driving properties in all situations. The car is more stable and consistent in its behaviour and response.

“Everyone in the family benefits from the active chassis," says Folkesson. "The car is safer and more comfortable to ride in." The advanced Four-C technology has also made it possible to modify chassis properties to suit each respective car model.

• In the Volvo S60 sedan, the chassis has a stiffer setting in Sports mode to provide enhanced road feedback and sportier driving properties. At the same time, the Comfort setting provides greater comfort than the standard chassis can offer.
  
• The Volvo V70 wagon, the family car of choice, has been tailored to provide high ride comfort while at the same time retaining its excellent ride and roadholding properties when the car is loaded. In Sports mode, the car offers a firmer and livelier ride.
  
• The Volvo crossover XC70 with active chassis has become stiffer and firmer, with increased steering feel and enhanced road feedback. The car is easier to control and more comfortable to ride in on both good and poor road surfaces.

Volvo Car Australia will offer Four-C active chassis as an option on S80, S60, V70 and XC70 at the recommended retail price of $3950. Note, Four-C must be accompanied by DSTC dynamic stability and traction control system.

For further information please contact:
Todd Hallenbeck
Public Affairs Manager
Volvo Car Australia
Phone: 02-9020 1613
Mobile: 0412 259 635
Fax: 02-9020 1597
Email: thallen2@volvocars.com