ipd XC60 R Design Project

This is our first Volvo on the relatively new “P3/Y2” platform. The XC60 shares much of its underpinnings with the 2008-2011 V70/XC70, the 2011 S60 and the 2007-2011 S80.

We’ll be developing anti-sway bars, checking out some wheel options, lowering springs, Performance ECU upgrades as well as experimenting with improving the fuel economy with some software tweaks as our XC60 seems to be running unusually rich based on how quickly the exhaust tips turn black after washing.

One of our staff members owns a business that specializes in performance parts for HONDA CRF off-road racing motorcycles. He has developed products used by the top professional Motocross and Supercross teams in the world including the GEICO HONDA Racing/Factory Connection Racing Team.

We drew up a rendering of the project featuring the wild single wheeled motorcycle trailer design shown and sent a proposal to the GEICO / FCR team and they liked it so much that they offered to let us use Kevin Windhams 2011 race bike when we display the concept at the 2011 SEMA show (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) in Las Vegas this fall. Kevin Windham, or “KW” as he is affectionately known by his fans, was recently voted the most popular off-road motorcycle racer in the history of the sport.

Volvo liked the extreme sports connection and the other project sponsors have worked with us on past show cars and concept projects, so with the positive responses things just sort of fell into place after that.

We took delivery of our Passion Red XC60 R – Design on May 10th and have been getting familiar with it, taking ride height measurements, recording sway bar diameters, 0-60 performance, etc. Since it’s a shared platform, many of the new products we develop for it will also be available for the Volvo models we mentioned above late summer/early fall.

This ipd SEMA project build won’t be as elaborate as some of our past projects like the ipd XC70 All Terrain or the ipd C30 Gullwing projects. We are planning to integrate an iPad into the upper area of the center stack console, which will be pretty trick if it works out according to plan.

Watch the project progress in the “Project Cars” section of our website for project updates including photos etc.