Volvo to impose 180km/h speed limit on all its cars from 2020

magicbastarder

Volvo Cars is to impose a 180 km/h (111mph) speed limit on all its cars from 2020 to highlight dangers of speeding.

While it may seem like merely a PR exercise given that the maximum limit in most countries already set at either 120km/h or 130km/h, it may prove to be the start of a trend other manufacturers follow.

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/motors/volvo-to-impose-180km-h-speed-limit-on-all-its-cars-from-2020-1.3813604

seems a rather arbitrary figure to pick, in the light of the comment that it's still going to be 50 or 60km/h higher than most countries would allow anyway.
and also in the light that the EU seem to be intent on imposing a speed warning system in all new cars in a few years too.

fancy pigeon

They're following what the Japs did in the 1980's?

MTBD

I'm really going off the Swedish lately. They just have such a nanny state, collectivist attitude to life. How many people regularly go over 180kph? I've rarely seen anyone travelling at that speed.

Stallingrad

Big changes ahead. Volvo should be commended on pioneering some of these ideas.

One day cars that could exceed a speed limit by a multiple at the whim of a human will be viewed the same way we now view smoking on planes. It's no bright future for petrol heads, but tens of thousands of lives will be saved by moves like this and the move to autonomy.

MrMusician18

MTBD wrote: »

I'm really going off the Swedish lately. They just have such a nanny state, collectivist attitude to life. How many people regularly go over 180kph? I've rarely seen anyone travelling at that speed.

Isn't volvo chinese now?

Could it be that they are speed limiting their cars in the name of "safety" so they don't have design and carry out testing at higher speeds?

biko

Volvo to impose speed limit on all its cars from 2020

The Chinese to sell chip to remove restriction from 2020

Toyotafanboi

Stallingrad wrote: »

Big changes ahead. Volvo should be commended on pioneering some of these ideas.

But not this one, because Japan has been at it for 30 odd years.

bigroad

Volvo better be careful or they could end up like Saab.

magicbastarder

MTBD wrote: »

I'm really going off the Swedish lately. They just have such a nanny state, collectivist attitude to life. How many people regularly go over 180kph? I've rarely seen anyone travelling at that speed.

that could be read as 'how dare they restrict something that people don't do anyway'.

Skylinehead

bigroad wrote: »

Volvo better be careful or they could end up like Saab.

They just set a sales record last year, don't think they're too concerned about what a random internet punter thinks

seamus

As pointed out, this is most likely a cost saving exercise elsewhere. It will allow them to restrict equipment tests to lower tolerances, fit parts only rated to 200km/h and ship all vehicles with U-rated tyres or less.

If someone crashes due to equipment failure and the car has been chipped, Volvo can just walk away.

Larbre34

bigroad wrote: »

Volvo better be careful or they could end up like Saab.

Remind yourself why Saab aren't around anymore.

Then look at Volvo's sales figures, newest range profile, innovations, market awards and future proofing objectives.

Also, they never said anything about the Polestar brand.....

seamus

seamus wrote: »

As pointed out, this is most likely a cost saving exercise elsewhere. It will allow them to restrict equipment tests to lower tolerances, fit parts only rated to 200km/h and ship all vehicles with U-rated tyres or less.

If someone crashes due to equipment failure and the car has been chipped, Volvo can just walk away.

I don't think Swedes think the way you do. I'd say this is to do with public safety, environment, to influence the politicians and also the fact that Volvo will going forward focus on EVs which have a really short range at 200 km/h so pointless to allow any faster speeds.

Their track record has been good. I can't think of any safety feature Volvo has implemented in the past being a cost cutting measure.

Del2005

Stallingrad wrote: »

Big changes ahead. Volvo should be commended on pioneering some of these ideas.

One day cars that could exceed a speed limit by a multiple at the whim of a human will be viewed the same way we now view smoking on planes. It's no bright future for petrol heads, but tens of thousands of lives will be saved by moves like this and the move to autonomy.

If vehicles couldn't go fast we'd still have drum brakes with cables, if you've ever driven a vehicle with drum brakes and cables you'd known that it's a retrograde step and not a safety step. We'd also most likely not have crumble zones and safety cells.

But yeah placing artificial restrictions really works. Look at how the Japanese police couldn't chase people who derstricted their cars.

There's only 2 places in the world where this restriction actually is any use, German autobahns and the Isle of Man, and I don't here about thousands of deaths in either of those locations so how will it save tens of thousands?

Phileas Frog

Del2005 wrote: »

German autobahns and the Isle of Man, and I don't here about thousands of deaths in either of those locations

3,540 road deaths in Germany in 2013

CJhaughey

biko wrote: »

Volvo to impose speed limit on all its cars from 2020

The Chinese to sell chip to remove restriction from 2020

They are owned by the Chinese already. Geely Group.
I see their cunning plan already.

Stallingrad

Del2005 wrote: »

There's only 2 places in the world where this restriction actually is any use, German autobahns and the Isle of Man, and I don't here about thousands of deaths in either of those locations so how will it save tens of thousands?

"tens of thousands of lives will be saved by moves like this and the move to autonomy."

Humans have proved to be very poor at piloting hunks of metal in congested places while engaging with their mobile devices/infotainment. Look at all the stupid fender benders (or worse) we see everyday, and eyes down at traffic lights, etc. Excessive speed is one part of the problem.

Like it or loathe it autonomy will save us from ourselves and there is no stopping it.

magicbastarder

Del2005 wrote: »

There's only 2 places in the world where this restriction actually is any use, German autobahns and the Isle of Man, and I don't here about thousands of deaths in either of those locations so how will it save tens of thousands?

there are a few caveats in the article, but:

Per billion kilometres travelled on motorways, Germany’s fatality rate (1.6) is twice as high as that in the UK (0.8)

https://www.thelocal.de/20190201/are-germanys-autobahns-really-the-safest-highways-in-the-world

lalababa

Fair play to Volvo. A step in the right direction.
Also.The human race and tech industry can't wait for autominous cars as then we can Facebook/google nonstop. Then we can wear headbands with mini internet devices plugged into one of our eyes. Instant and 24hr social media ..

Del2005

magicbastarder wrote: »

there are a few caveats in the article, but:

https://www.thelocal.de/20190201/are-germanys-autobahns-really-the-safest-highways-in-the-world

How much more dangerous are German autobahns than rural Donegal roads? Motorways are still safer than the roads where you can't exceed 120.

So they are reducing the tiny risk of someone crashing at over 180km/h when most crashes are at substantially less speed and people think its a safety feature, it's a marketing exercise and that's all it is.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Who cares, Volvo are a very small seller in Ireland and I could absolutely near guarantee that the vast majority of those who buy them would never have seen 140kmph let alone anything higher. Its no biggy, Japan has been doing it for over 40 years.

magicbastarder

Del2005 wrote: »

So they are reducing the tiny risk of someone crashing at over 180km/h when most crashes are at substantially less speed and people think its a safety feature, it's a marketing exercise and that's all it is.

yeah, i'd be curious as to whether they keep track of deaths in volvos where the car was travelling north of 180 at the time the crash occurred.

they've probably realised that the promise about no deaths in volvos after 2020 will need to be delivered soon.

Manic Moran

Obviously Volvo doesn't plan on making any cars which will appeal to the track day punter.

ei9go

If you have ever had a Jap car with the 180kph clock, you will know how much better the speedo is with less segments. Much easier to tell your speed.

oceanman

should be easy enough to override any system like that. no doubt someone will have a u tube video posted.

kirving

MrMusician18 wrote: »

Isn't volvo chinese now?

Could it be that they are speed limiting their cars in the name of "safety" so they don't have design and carry out testing at higher speeds?

I highly doubt it. Within automotive, quality is no. 1 at all time, with cost coming second. You wouldn't believe the amount and extremity of testing done to even the most basic component that go into every car.

magicbastarder

also, no-one carries out safety testing at 180km/h+, do they?

GavRedKing

Simple enough, if you want something fast and Swedish, buy a Koenigsegg.

:pac:

Oink

MTBD wrote: »

I'm really going off the Swedish lately. They just have such a nanny state, collectivist attitude to life. How many people regularly go over 180kph? I've rarely seen anyone travelling at that speed.

There was one caught doing 170 last week, on the N7 I think? So... not that rare.

EDIT. It was the M7 2 weeks ago.

Here’s one caught at 180:
https://mobile.twitter.com/gardatraffic/status/959424107422023683

Wayhey here’s a 190:
https://mobile.twitter.com/gardatraffic/status/875960098450964480

Ok I’m done now

Dadgummit I can’t stop
200: https://mobile.twitter.com/gardatraffic/status/1089165951067742208

Isambard

mkes little difference when the EU are introducing in 2020 speed limiters which recognise speed limits. (overridable but that won't last)

gctest50

magicbastarder wrote: »

also, no-one carries out safety testing at 180km/h+, do they?

Close enough :

Isambard

gctest50 wrote: »

Close enough :

ST170 :-(

Ahh, but above is a mk1 Ford Focus. Had it been a 2020 Volvo at 180 km/h all the passengers would have just walked away without a scratch. The car would have needed the front bumper scratches to be fixed afterwards. And the spills from the latte.

CiniO

To be honest, while I'm strongly against any speed limiting, speed limits, speed cameras, etc, and ideally I would like to see a world without speed limits at all.

But from practical point of view, driving at over 180km/h for longer period is extremely exhausting.

Yes, it's fun to accelerate to 200km/h, 230km/h or 270km/h or higher (whatever your car can do) to feel the speed, but driving 200km trip at 200km/h is hardly achievable for normal person due to requirement for constant concentration on what you're actually doing.

From my experience, driving at 200km/h for an hour is more exhausting that driving at 120km/h for 8 hours.

IMO around 140-160km/h is maximum achievable commuting speed.

mickdw

I imagine the volvo type max speed is coming and realistically, it wont bother anyone really as if its kept at 180 km/hr, its plenty quick for the public road.
Id be more concerned about the black box type systems that will track every move and either report speed or limit speed in all situations to the posted limit.

magicbastarder

mickdw wrote: »

Id be more concerned about the black box type systems that will track every move

smartphones?

Ubbquittious

When someone mentions Volvo the last thing that comes to my mind is someone going anywhere near 100 miles per hour.

People who buy volvos these days are the complete opposite of petrolheads. They could limit them to 120kph without affecting their sales

Widdensushi

Well that's one way to set a target.

JustARandomGuy

Stallingrad wrote: »

Big changes ahead. Volvo should be commended on pioneering some of these ideas.

One day cars that could exceed a speed limit by a multiple at the whim of a human will be viewed the same way we now view smoking on planes. It's no bright future for petrol heads, but tens of thousands of lives will be saved by moves like this and the move to autonomy.

I also propose a chip that will monitor your every move. As much as I hate the whole conspiracy tin-foil hat talk, it's sad how we're letting ourselves be controlled more and more in the name of safety, environment and whatever else there might be.


What's worse, people applaud it.

Isambard wrote: »

mkes little difference when the EU are introducing in 2020 speed limiters which recognise speed limits. (overridable but that won't last)

They won't. It's only a proposal at this stage and it's likely to be heavily lobbied by everyone in the motor industry.

Dravokivich

Ubbquittious wrote: »

When someone mentions Volvo the last thing that comes to my mind is someone going anywhere near 100 miles per hour.

People who buy volvos these days are the complete opposite of petrolheads. They could limit them to 120kph without affecting their sales

Ehm... I think I you're too caught up in stereotypes there.

mickdw

magicbastarder wrote: »

mickdw wrote: »

Id be more concerned about the black box type systems that will track every move

smartphones?

I'm talking about compulsory devices reporting to state / insurer.

John_Rambo

Ubbquittious wrote: »

When someone mentions Volvo the last thing that comes to my mind is someone going anywhere near 100 miles per hour.

People who buy volvos these days are the complete opposite of petrolheads. They could limit them to 120kph without affecting their sales

My 2.5 Turbo T5 would disagree.

Riar_

I hope they make an exception for Germany.

lawred2

I can't see how this affects me

lawred2

gctest50 wrote: »

Close enough :

good lord

it's not like I would have expected anything else but still seeing it...

jimgoose

gctest50 wrote: »

Close enough :...

That'll tap out.

MTBD

OSI wrote: »

20+ years of R, T5s, T8s and Polestars say you are wrong.

That's what makes them cool. People like that guy who dont have a clue get a surprise when they get someone blasting buy them in a boxy Volvo.

That said, the last 10 years really has seen a slide in sporting Volvos. Aside from the S60 Polestar, they havent done much.

R.O.R

MTBD wrote: »

Aside from the S60 Polestar, they havent done much.

Don't forget the V60 Polestar, that I had the pleasure of batting around Mondello a couple of years ago.

patmahe

The thing is if you no longer have a high top speed you no longer need long gear ratios to get to that top speed. So what you will actually get in say a 6 speed box is 5 short sharp ratios to improve acceleration and one long cruising gear for motorway work.

As someone who enjoys a car that is capable of accelerating quickly if needed (eg overtaking), rather than a car that can do 140mph but I will go to jail if I do it, I welcome this move. Top speed is largely irrelevant in the real world.

fancy pigeon

Ubbquittious wrote: »

When someone mentions Volvo the last thing that comes to my mind is someone going anywhere near 100 miles per hour.

People who buy volvos these days are the complete opposite of petrolheads. They could limit them to 120kph without affecting their sales

Depends on the Volvo! I couldn't resist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XidszGa5I5k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGY3qUJNZkI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdwZdqqjmCc

Skylinehead

fancy pigeon wrote: »

Depends on the Volvo! I couldn't resist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XidszGa5I5k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGY3qUJNZkI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdwZdqqjmCc

Or this one:

http://www.speedhunters.com/2014/08/volvo-242-bmw-m5-v10-gatebil/