Volvo S60 2008 Review

2008 Volvo S60

Posted on 08.14.2007 00:00 by Simona Alina

The Volvo S60 was launched in autumn 2000 as a somewhat smaller sedan than the Volvo S80. The design brief was to create a car with the same basic lines and safety as the S80 model, but in a more compact body and with a sportier profile. 

Design Four-door sedan. The Volvo S60 has a sloping roof line, swept-back C-posts and short rear section - a combination of sedan and coupedesign that gives the car its sporty appearance. In order to further emphasise the S60 model’s sporty profile, the nose section has been extended, the haunches are more pronounced and the body has a ground-hugging stance. Although the body is compact, the interior offers generous space and comfortable seating for four occupants. However, this is space for a fifth passenger, along with a fifth seat belt and head restraint. One of the reasons for the good interior space is Volvo’s modern powertrain concept, which features transverse engine installation. 2008 Volvo S60 Volvo S60 gets a new exterior colour: the 489 Matt Gold pearl. Discontinued colours are: 465 Cedar Green pearl 469 Lunar Gold pearl 613 Deep Blue   Safety Volvo Cars adopts a holistic view of safety that encompasses both Preventive and Protective safety. Preventive safety is closely linked to the car’s driving properties. The body of the Volvo S60 features immense torsional rigidity and the car has a sturdy chassis, a combination that results in consistent, predictable behaviour on the road (see also under "Powertrain and Chassis"). Volvo Cars has developed various information systems designed to help the driver while on the move. One such system is IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System), which for instance delays incoming phone calls in complex traffic situations that require the driver’s undivided attention. BLIS - Blind Spot Information System - registers if another vehicle is in the offset rear blind spot alongside the car and alerts the driver via a visual signal. Active Bi-Xenon headlamps - moving headlamp beams that follow the curvature of the road - help maintain the best possible visibility in the dark on twisting roads. 2008 Volvo S60 S60 models intended for the US market are equipped with a tyre pressure control system - TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System). Protective safety in the Volvo S60 is structured around a network consisting of exterior and interior safety systems that interact with one another to reduce the risk of occupant injury in a collision. The exterior systems have the task of distributing and absorbing incoming collision forces so that the passenger compartment remains as intact and undamaged as possible. The body is therefore built in the form of a metal cage where all the components interact with one another to ensure controlled deformation. The interior safety systems aim to keep the passengers securely in place and also to reduce the risk of serious injury. In order to provide the most effective protection possible, Volvo Cars has developed a number of in-house systems, such as WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) and IC (Inflatable Curtain). All are fitted as standard in the Volvo S60. What is more, all five seats are equipped with three-point inertia-reel seat belts, belt pre-tensioners and head restraints. The highest possible safety requires that all the car’s occupants always use their seat belts. Powertrain and chassis The engines in the Volvo S60 are five-cylinder, transversely installed in-line units. A five-cylinder engine gives low vibration and smooth operation. Together with large displacement, the five-cylinder configuration provides high torque across a broad rev band, and thus also swift acceleration and excellent driveability within a wide speed range. 2008 Volvo S60 The Volvo S60 T5 is the top model, featuring a turbocharger and a six-speed gearbox. The engine range also includes diesel engines with particle filters, and the environmentally optimised Volvo Bi-Fuel, which can be run on methane or petrol. The chassis, with spring struts at the front and Multilink axle at the rear, is set up for stable, reassuring driving manners and alert steering response. The Multilink rear axle is an independent rear suspension system featuring a number of links and it is designed to offer a good combination of controlled wheel movements and high ride comfort. Some of these links have the task of providing a certain degree of anti-skid steering effect. A long wheelbase and wide track, together with a very torsionally rigid body, contribute to the predictable, controlled driving manners. Volvo’s advanced DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) stability-enhancing system is fitted as standard. DSTC cuts in and helps stabilise the car if it registers any tendency to skid. An active chassis with advanced Four-C technology is available as an option. With this system, the chassis settings are adjusted automatically to suit the current driving conditions, thus improving both handling and ride comfort. Two alternative chassis settings are programmed into the system. At the touch of a button, the driver can thus alter the car’s behaviour to suit driving conditions and personal taste. TheVolvo S60 2.5T AWD has Volvo’s electronically controlled All-Wheel Drive system with Instant Traction, for fast and effective distribution of traction even when moving off on a slippery surface. 2008 Volvo S60 The environment The Volvo S60 is designed and equipped to impact as little as possible on the global environment and to offer a clean and healthy interior climate. Petrol engines with low internal friction, efficient combustion and advanced exhaust filtration technology result in low emissions. Energy-efficient diesel engines with particle filters produce low emissions of carbon dioxide and soot particles. Methane-powered Bi-Fuel cars with petrol as the back-up fuel reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25% compared with petrol-only cars, if the methane is extracted from natural gas. When running on biogas, the net greenhouse effect is instead virtually zero. The engines in the Volvo S60 can be optionally specified with a catalytic radiator coating known as PremAir®. This system converts harmful ground-level ozone into pure oxygen as the car drives. Its benefits are greatest in dense city traffic and in strong sunlight. 2008 Volvo S60 Volvo’s IAQS (Interior Air Quality System) effectively reduces the amount of particles, pollen, gases and certain unpleasant odours in the air entering the cabin. All the textiles and leather upholsteries are certified according to ÖKO-TEX 100, an international standard that ensures that the interior trim is free from allergy-producing and hazardous substances.

Volvo XC70 anyone?

I'm starting to like the xc70, but i dunno if it's too low . . .  this cam in my mail for the diplomatic car sales emailer they send out, this is how I found my car at such a great deal too :D

xc70 - 4x4 and high tech hehe, the werks  

Vote for a Young Pinoy's Work (Glenn Peter Perez) at UK's DCMag Photography Contest

International Photography Competition

Register, and then vote for GLP's entries  here

I'm sure you'll like em.  

DST Time Change

Don Miguel will have a -7 hour time difference from back home in a few hours.

here are the details

Time Zone
Europe/Brussels

Current Date and Time in Europe/Brussels
Sat 25-Oct-2008 10:47 P.M.

Country
Belgium

Daylight Saving Time (DST) in effect?
Yes

Most Recent DST Transition
DST began on Sun 30-Mar-2008 at 02:00:00 A.M. when local clocks were set forward 1 hour

Next Scheduled DST Transition
DST will end on Sun 26-Oct-2008 at 03:00:00 A.M. when local clocks are set backward 1 hour

Don Miguel is

Watching the Global Stock Indices bouncing along the bottom 

I tell ya, this is the best time to be working for government right now.

Raices Familia Ignacio (Caceres, Alcantara, Espana) - Ignacio Family Roots

Ignacio family Background (Caceres, Alcantara, Spain)
Posted by: Rafael L Ignacio Velez Torres Medina (ID *****2625)	Date: December 03, 2007 at 00:14:04
	of 25

To all interested, The Ignacio Family originated in northen Spain (Basco's) and transfer sometime around the 1500's to the area of Alcantaras, mainly the Town of Caceres. Since then it expanded to Portugal and areas near the border with Portugal and Spain, From there it had some relative move to the Caribbean , mainly Puerto Rico and one that reach the Philippines as early as 17oo's.

The oldest Ignacio recorded in the caribbean was bury (sic) in the catatombs, of Iglesia San Agustin in Puert de Tierra, San Juan Puerto Rico sometime around the late 1600's to early 1700's.
There are records of some 2 or 3 cousings reaching as far as Mexico from Puerto Rico in the middle 1700's.

I'm trying to reach all Ignacio'S that think or knows that they might be decendants of the Ignacio's from Alcantaras. Those in general is one clan only and it is consider the largest clan of Ignacio's. We even have a supposed Viceroy in Brazil appointed by the King of Portugal.

1 out of every 7 Belgians is poor - (expatica.be)

1 in 7 Belgians is poor20/10/2008 00:00

Almost 15 percent of the Belgian population is living below the poverty line.

20 October 2008

Brussels - On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, central Brussels hosted  a number of events to draw attention to poverty in Belgian society. 

According to European statistics, one in seven Belgians (or almost  15 percent of the Belgian population) is living below the poverty line.

The minimum benefit jobless people are entitled to is currently 711 euros a month. The Flemish association for the fight against poverty wants to have this raised to 860 euros, a 21 percent rise.

"No money for the poor, billions for the banks"

However, the government has promised only a 2 percent rise for next year. State Secretary responsible for the fight against poverty, Jean-Marc Delizée (Francophone Socialist), says the government cannot act immediately.

"My aim is to have nobody living below the poverty line", Mr Delizée explains. "This costs a lot of money though and we will not be able to achieve this goal in one year. I think it will take some years to close the gap, but I will support such a plan year after year."

Anke Hintjes of the Flemish Network for Poverty is disappointed. "They say there is no money, but at the same we see that billions of euros can be found for the banks in a couple of weeks. This is really shocking."

No teeth since a year and a half

Many people living below the poverty threshold can't afford decent housing or basic needs. One woman explained that she has been living without teeth for almost a year and a half. "I simply can't afford new teeth. It's too expensive."

Johnny now has a job, but he used to be homeless. "It was a daily struggle to survive, to find a toilet, something to eat, a dry spot to sleep. Time and again. I was lucky because it happened during summer, but it's even tougher in winter."

Nele says the poor should get more respect from people. "The poor are often stigmatised. They can't do anything, they are lazy, stupid, dirty... But that's not true. They simply don't get a chance."

When is someone considered poor?

In the European Union someone is considered poor when he or she has an income below 860 euros. 

For families with two adults and two children, the poverty threshold has been set at 1,805 euros per month. 

In Belgium, 14.7 percent of the population do not meet these minimum standards. Most at risk are those who have no job (the unemployed or pensioners), people living alone or single-parent families.

[flandersnews.be / Expatica]

Autumn is Here -

I got to Brussels one month short of a year ago. And this site greeted me. The building behind my office, covered in bright red leaves. 

This building had green leaves all of spring and summer and now this.  It's a chameleon of an edifice indeed.

The streets are filled with fallen maple leaves and the nip in the air is turning into frost.

And so my friends, in a month's time, I will be a year in Brussels.

can't wait to be home for Christmas really . . 

Don Miguel's Tuna in Brussels - Proudly Philippine Made

Canned tuna is a staple in my grocery list.  I use lots of tuna for my world famous, Don Miguel, il Signorino Mediterranean Salad, I use tuna for my Tuna-Melt Rice Topping, I use tuna for omelette, etc. 

Anyway, I did my groceries at Delhaize Supermarket, instead of my usual GB by Carrefour haunt, one time, went straight for the aisle where the tuna was, and reached in for several cans of Tuna with the Delhaize Brand, for the best price on the rack.

Part of my work is to protect our country's interests in its Tuna exports. . . and I was so surprised, later that week, to find out that the tuna I bought from Delhaize, was voila!  - made in the Philippines!

Whopeeeeeee!!!! made in the Philippines indeed!

So guys, I'll be doing my Tuna grocery shopping in Delhaize from now on.

Are you there?

are u there

in the offing

of the gloom

are you there

in the mist

of the cold winter noon

are you there

in the twilight

of the summer morn

are you there

An Ode of Gratitude to Ms. Pinky Marquez: The Lady with a Golden Voice and a Golden Heart.

About three or four years ago, my pals and myself were lining up at the ticket booth of the then newer Greenbelt 3 Cinemas.   (Yep, back in Manila, I used to watch movies 2x or 3x a week -- except of course if nothing interesting was showing. Here in Europe, I only watch movies with my expat pals once in a blue moon  because of the prohibitive cost-- but that's another story.)  In front of us in the queue was a beautiful lady who looked familiar and her son.  When it was their turn at the counter, she had what seemed like lots of free movie tickets and it took her a much longer time to finish their business with the ticket lady. My pals and I were growing impatient but said nothing. Until suddenly she turned to me and gave me three tickets. 

I was surprised and embarrased at the same time, I said thank you and offered to pay for the  tickets. She said, no it's okay, you and your friends have enjoy the movie.  And then she and her teener son left happily with a smile. 

I asked my friends, do you know her? I think she looks famous.   One of them answered, "We just got treated to a free movie by Pinky Marquez, Mike."

So here it is.  I'm here to tell my tale and this grand lady's little act of kindness, no matter how belatedly it is.   Ms. Pinky Marquez, Ma'am, Don Miguel Thanks you from the bottom of his heart.   Not only do you have a golden voice, and a pretty face, you also have a wonderful heart.  Muchissimas Gracias!  Thank you very very much all the way from Brussels, Belgium and that one movie night  - Don Miguel, il Signorino.

(If you know Ms. Marquez, or if anyone of her family or close googles her and somehow gets to this entry, please pass the message on for me.)

Blast from the (not so distant) Past -

November 2006 I think or was it 2005?  Wait I was with Chikka 2006, so yes 2005. I was on a business trip in Singapore for the Spanish company i used to represent in South East Asia, Korea and Taiwan. Here I am encoding and translating my purchase orders into spanish before transmittal to Spain at my hotel room at the Peninsula in Singapore around 8:30-9pm before going out to Partay!

I'm bringing this picture to my barber here to show him this IS the haircut i Like.   It's so hard to explain it in french, really.  

Economic Meltdown woes

I logged in to my investment brokerage account today and noticed the beating that my placements took because of the darn crash.   

I was away at the Port of Antwerp all the day and could not run to the bank to sign off cancel orders for the next scheduled placements and all the other scheduled placements for that matter.

But hey, I guess it wasn't wise to cash in at the worst possible day, hopefully today we see some rebounds after the graphs hit rock bottom.  The problem is, no one seems to know where the bottom is and until when it's gonna be on a freefall.

Dang SICAV funds!  

Arrrrrgh

The Bonfire Incident

Ateneo apologizes over bonfire incident 

By Jasmine W. Payo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:05:00 10/06/2008

MANILA, Philippines—A recent Ateneo bonfire celebration has added fuel to the varsity animosity between the Blue Eagles and the De La Salle University Green Archers, prompting an apology from top officials of the Loyola-based school.

Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, recently apologized to the La Sallian community for an irreverent incident during the bonfire on the Ateneo campus last Sept. 30 to celebrate the UAAP championship won by the Eagles at the expense of the Archers.

Some of the firewood used at the bonfire had the names of the entire La Salle roster bannered by JV Casio, Rico Maierhofer and coach Franz Pumaren.

"Despite our rivalries in sports, we are both committed to Christian values and what was done is certainly a violation of values we share," Nebres said in a letter to De La Salle University System president Br. Armin Luistro, FSC, dated Oct. 2.

As reports and photos of the incident circulated in blogs and online basketball forums, students and alumni from La Salle, and even Ateneo, branded the act distasteful regardless of the rivalry between the two elite squads.

Nebres said none of the school officials "saw it ahead of time, because the wood pile was covered by a tarp against the rain until the time came to light it."

An alumnus already claimed responsibility for "producing the materials" and apologized to Nebres for "the backlash it created."

"Our community accepted [Ateneo's apology]," Br. Bernie Oca, FSC, La Salle's representative to the UAAP board, said Sunday. "We are also awaiting the results of their investigations which they said they will do."

Huge Sigh of Relief: Bail-out Plan Approved by lower House Finally.

House Approves Bailout on Second Try

The House of Representatives gave final approval on Friday to
the $700 billion financial bailout, reversing course to
authorize what may be the most expensive government
intervention in the marketplace in history.

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na

Nope, I ain't this unlucky (yet)

This picture was supposedly taken in Geneva, I sure hope it won't happen here in Brussels while am here.