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Volvo's fifth appearance at the
SEMA show in Las Vegas has given us a glimpse at how far the brand could go if it were to lose its rather sensible Swedish head and stick on something more extroverted and with a tendency to dabble in surfing...
First and most impressive to look at is the 'metal-effect'
Heico Sportiv T6 HPC. Based on the
S80 saloon, the paint work is a special seven-layer application that takes two weeks to complete. Paint job aside, the German tuner has boosted the T6's engine power to 350bhp whilst torque is a hefty 405lb.ft from 1,500rpm to 4,000rpm - sending this Swede from 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds. Heico chose to run the concept on E85 bio-ethanol fuel to promote a certain awareness of the environment too. But with stiffened springs, new shock absorbers and a tasty stainless steel exhaust system, the T6 is aimed more at driver satisfaction than eco-competence.
As is its smaller brother, the Heico Sportiv C30. Using surfer-inspired exterior decals, the hatch hides a 300bhp turbocharged motor that will send it from standing to 62mph in 5.4 seconds and on to a limited 155mph. With a lowered stance and meatier body kit including quad exhausts, the C30 concept certainly stands out. Open the door and with surfer-sunglasses at the ready, your eyes are met with a sea of lurid bright orange leather covering everything from the seats to the dash.
The XC70 didn't escape a touch up either. Arriving at SEMA this year, the popular 'soft-roader' has been kitted out in the sort of guise any lifeguard would be proud to own. Called the Surf Rescue, it uses a five-inch-lift suspension and oversized tyres to deal with sandy and undulating terrain, whilst using Volvo's own electronically-controlled all-wheel drive system that is put to use by a 3.2-litre 233bhp motor. Inside, front and back seats are covered in neoprene (the material used for wetsuits) and there is even a pair of surfboards for when duty calls.
Caresto also had a go at Volvo's finest with its own carnation of
the C70. Thanks to a BSR PPC tuning system and new air filter, the T5's engine power has increased from 218bhp to a more enticing 278bhp, with torque shooting up by nearly 100lb.ft to 325lb.ft available from 1,500rpm to 4,500rpm. The exterior has been modified, particularly at the front with a more deep-set grille and thicker bumper section that houses brushed aluminium inserts around the fog lights. Like the others, the interior has also been changed, with new chestnut leather for all to stare at when in open-top mode.
Finally, the Caresto Hot Rod made a come back to Vegas again this year. Despite the long nose, its powerplant lies behind the driver, apparently to aid weight distribution. The 4.4-litre V8 can produce up to 340bhp on bio-ethanol, or 311bhp on normal unleaded petrol, and is mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox. With old-school curves, the Hot Rod uses hand crafted carbon fibre and aluminium panels to shed further weight, whilst its bling wheels measure 20-inches at the front and an impressive 22-inches at the rear.
And you thought Volvos were all about safety...
Kyle Molyneux - 5 Nov 2007