Old V90

[Murphy]

As I read, with interest, articles on the forth coming V90, I think back to the marketing ploy / end of line run of luxury Volvo's that were the last of the classic box style -

I wonder what those at Volvo he ad office were thinking. It would have been 1996/7 when the established that there were loads of 960's and the 70 series was due out. So some rebadging took place and a few tweaks and lots of luxury later the V90 was born for a short period of time at a very reasonable price, undercutting the 850 and V70 by a few grand, and offering a silky smooth V6 with an auto box.

The car was aimed at the stereo typical Volvo driver of old I think. It really was mutton dressed as lamb - but pound for pound it was the most luxury you could get for the money, with the ability to take a multiple of adults in comfort at high speed with a horse box / caravan strapped to the back - lol..........

Looking at the new one it will be along the same lines - but with it's much improved reputation I am sure the sort of people buying would be in the market for a big benz / audi beemer and see the V90 as a capable alternative to what is an equally matched luxury car.

Anyone agree or of the same opinion ?

[pzorb]

I hope the new v90 captures that certain X factor that the old 960/v90 had. In stock presentation, I'm not a huge fan, but there's just something about an old 960 that's had a cosmetic overhaul, the super boxyness is so old skool early 90s cool imho! I always try to defend the styling of volvos as - certainly in the past - they reflect the mood of the times perfectly. The yellow T5r estate for me can't be more 1995 if it tried! With all the rave-into-club music that came out at the same time, the two go together in my eyes.
And as for the 960, the aftermarket styling all seems to build upon and highlight that underlying boxyness that hadn't quite evolved yet into what we know as the 850:


You could show those cars to anyone without volvo knowledge but with a knowledge of design and they'd place them almost all within a few years. The music metaphore applies to these as well, the sounds of the early 90s music scene was crude but had something infectious with it (think early prodigy albums)
Lol maybe i'm reading too much into this! I hope so actually, otherwise current designs might reflect the lack of ambition going on in the music scene at the moment... <pictures a suzuki liana in 'Nonce Blue'>

Btw i'm not suggesting that the designers of volvo were into their rave music btw! Just that the factors that influenced them in their car design were also influencing the people making music at the same time.

That's my thoughts on it anyway

Martin

[d14vd_h]

hey guys was readin your post with interest!
any links to the new V90
i currently drive a modified 940
see the loch lomon pics under the meetups section fors ome pictures!!!
some people describe them as the last of the 'real volvos' being last rwd and last 'box' but i dunno....