2004 Volvo S40 on 2040-cars

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Ex-Volvo boss Stefan Jacoby to head GM's international operations

He was too talented not to surface somewhere, we just didn't know where and when. Nine months ago, Stefan Jacoby stepped down from his post as Volvo CEO, a move that caught many off guard. At the time, the separation was called "amicable," but word is that the strong-willed executive clashed with owners Geely and the automaker's board.
Jacoby will have a new set of challenges on his hands, as he has just been named Executive Vice President Consolidated International Operations for General Motors. That means the Hannover-born Jacoby will head up the company's operations in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, where he will be responsible for over 100 countries and territories. Jacoby succeeds Tim Lee, who has been named chairman of GM China. Lee will also retain his post as Executive Vice President Global Manufacturing.
Jacoby's dealings with Geely should help him in his Asian market duties, but he also counts time as the head of Volkswagen of China on his resume, so he's very well-versed in the market's peculiarities.

Volvo V70 and XC70 and Ocean Race special editions wash ashore ahead of Geneva

Volvo will unveil the third in its series of new concepts to the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, but it will also bring a flotilla of special editions to the Swiss show. The V70 and XC70 are getting limited-edition models called simply Edition, and the V40, V40 Cross Country, V60 and XC60 will have Volvo Ocean Race Editions.
The Edition models outfit the cars with an extra sprinkling of style. The V70 Edition gets high-gloss black trim on the grille, mirror caps, side window frames and tailgate and rides on silver, 17-inch wheels with high-gloss black 17-inch and 18-inch wheels as options. The XC70 Edition adds some gloss black exterior upgrades too, plus high-gloss black, 18-inch diamond-cut wheels. Both models are swathed in black leather upholstery with cream stitching.
The Volvo Ocean Race Editions celebrate the brand's sponsorship of a 38,739-nautical-mile yacht race that will circumnavigate the world from 2014 to 2015. All of them sport the race logo on the tread plates, front fenders, infotainment display on start-up and special seven-spoke wheels. Inside, there is the choice of black or blonde leather seats with orange stitching. The 60-series cars also sport a map of the race route on the rear load cover.

Volvo Pure Tension concept folds solar charging pavilion into trunk

Even by the 'anything-goes' standards of concept cars, this one is a head-spinner: the "Pure Tension" Volvo V60 Pavilion, commissioned by Volvo Italy and winner of the Pure Volvo Pavilion Design competition. The alien form seen hovering all over the rendered V60 is a pavilion, as in the kind erected for trade shows or outdoor events. Developed by Synthesis Design + Architecture, Buro Happold, and Fabric Images, the pavilion is a flexible mesh structure held in place by a carbon fiber rods.
What's more, the mesh is embedded with photovotaic cells so that the pavilion can absorb energy from the sun or indoor lighting, making it a portable charging station. It can power itself or the crossover, the V60 at the center of it all being a diesel hybrid that plugs straight into the pavilion. When it's time to go, the entire structure can be folded small enough to fit in the trunk of the car.
We're told it will be shown in September in Rome. Even if we never see this particular creation on the streets, it's comfortable proof that our future will eventually be wilder than we can imagine.