The 2003 V70R has sparked my interest in owning a Volvo again. I love the R wagons and this new one with 300 hp and a 6sp is obviously appealing. Not to mention the fact that there is a family in my future. My Z car just isn't going to cut it any more plus this new R could spank it and I just can't stomach the thought of being beaten by a "soccer mom", I'm going to be the one that does the romping!! Anyway sorry for the rambling here is my question. It seems from what I have read here that the old system in the current v70R AWD' s is somewhat flawed or sketchy to say the least. Isn't the Haldex system what comprises of the quattro system or am I mistaken??? Is so, can't we take some piece of mind in knowing that system is already out there in thousands of cars already on the road? Being from san diego I don't necessarily "need" awd, but owning an R car does have a certain mystique to it.

Chuck

Any news on the ETA of the V70R in the US? I had heard spring 2003 as a 2004 model, and the S60R first.

-bill d cat

You heard right!


Yannis
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2001 V70 T-5M SR, Classic Red/Graphite Lthr., ipd ME7 ECU Upgrade, iPd Sport Exhaust, K&N Air Filter, Cold Weather, Dolby Surr. Sound, Rear Spoiler, 17' 'Tethys' alloys

The Haldex system has been used by the Volkswagen group for a couple of years already in all their 4wd cars with TRANSVERSE engine. That said, the only Audi that has the Haldex system is the A3 which I don't think is imported to the US.
In the Audi A4 (at leats the old model) and the bigger Audis and in the VW Passat the system used is the "original" Quattro with a Torsen differential.
Come to think of it, the Audi TT has the Haldex system.

The difference is that the Torsen-Quattro system always splits power 50/50 whereas the haldex only distributes power to the rear wheels if needed. Quite like the old system Volvo used. The difference is that the Haldex system is electronically controlled and MUCH faster than the viscious coupling system.

I say you have nothing to fear in terms of reliability when it comes to Haldex. It's a good system that's tried and tested.

Fil

So essentially its a fwd with a rear assist when needed...If volvo wants to go all out what's stopping them from a quattro-like system. Is it purely economics or something else?

I think that it is just as you mentioned... a FWD system with less drag and maybe a better CAFE rating than the full time systems added drag ?? Tom