Volvo XC90 Named North American Truck of the Year

    DETROIT, Jan. 5, 2003; Almost one year to the day after being
introduced at the North American International Auto Show as the "Next
Generation SUV," the Volvo XC90 has been named North American Truck of the
Year.
    "We are very proud to receive this prestigious award for Volvo in such a
competitive segment within such an important market," said Hans-Olov Olsson,
President of Volvo Car Corporation. "With Volvo's first entry into the
rapidly-growing SUV market, we wanted to be true to our brand core values of
safety, environmental care and quality."
    The competition -- judged by 49 automotive journalists from the United
States and Canada representing newspapers, magazines and the electronic media
-- honors vehicles that set new standards or become new benchmarks in their
class.
    Each vehicle is judged on items including: general design; safety; fuel
economy; handling and general roadworthiness; performance; comfort; assembly
quality; functionality; technical innovation; driver satisfaction; and price.
    "The XC90 isn't exactly a truck, but it is a vehicle that successfully
answers most of the criticisms aimed at today's upscale SUVs. From the boron-
reinforced roof, to the technology monitoring occupants, to the anti-rollover
system, the XC90 actually has managed to swing the technology pendulum in
favor of SUVs as compared to conventional sedans. It does this with an
elegant, long-lasting design and a highly functional interior package. In
short, it does almost anything you would want a vehicle to do, save pull a
really big trailer up a mountain grade," commented Popular Science editor and
North American Truck of the Year juror Dan McCosh.
    The XC90 features no fewer than five automotive world firsts: Roll
Stability Control (RSC); an inflatable side curtain for all three rows of
seats; an integrated sliding center booster seat for children; seatbelts with
"pre tensioners" in all seating positions; and, the availability of a Dolby
5.1 Pro Logic II surround sound stereo system featuring a 305-watt Alpine
amplifier and 12 premium speakers.
    "We are extremely pleased with the response by the media and by consumers
to the XC90," said Vic Doolan, Volvo Cars of North America President and CEO.
"In addition to recognition for design, for performance, and for safety, the
XC90 has been met with great customer appeal, with a waiting list that extends
through the first quarter of 2003."
    The XC90 was recently named Motor Trend 2003 Sport/Utility of the Year.
Other awards in the United States and Canada include: 2003 SUV of the Year,
AutoSpies.com; Best New Large SUV, Kiplinger's Personal Finance; Traffic
Safety Achievement Award, World Traffic Symposium; SUV of the Year/Mudfest
Champion, North West Automobile Press Association; Truck of Texas(TM), Texas
Auto Writers Association; SUV of the Year, Guide de L'Auto; Best New Sport
Utility Vehicle over $45,000 (Canadian Dollars), Automobile Journalists
Association of Canada.
    Two all-wheel-drive versions of the Volvo XC90 are currently available:
the XC90 AWD and the XC90 AWD T6 starting at a very competitive $35,100. They
will be joined during the first quarter of 2003 by a front-wheel-drive version
aggressively priced at $33,350.
    Volvo Cars of North America, LLC is part of the Volvo Car Corporation of
Goteborg, Sweden. The company provides marketing, sales, parts, service,
technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the US,
Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
    In addition to the award-winning XC90, the 2003 Volvo Cars model line-up
includes the rugged XC70 (Cross Country) and the versatile V70, the sporty S60
sedan, the flagship S80 luxury sedan, C70 convertible, and compact S40 and V40
models.