Cars
"Travelling in a car should be a pleasant experience for the nose as well."
These are the words of Patrik Libander, a Volvo engineer in charge of the smell test panel. Yes, the smell test panel.
Volvo has two four-man teams responsible for applying exhaustive smell tests on their cars. Efforts to build a device that could take the place of a human nose - or eight human noses - have failed. Capable humans are vetted as seriously as dogs for the K9 units of police forces. You must have a sense of smell in tune with others in your group; be sensitive but not overly so; and be a non-smoker.
Why is Volvo obsessed with scent? Say they, " The interior of a modern vehicle contains many different materials that contain chemical substances. While most of these substances remain locked in the material, small quantities can evaporate, creating that “new car smellâ€. The panel monitors these substances and the smells they may cause in the cabin." When a team sets forth to sniff out an interior, the car must rate no higher than a 3 to pass the test. A rating of 1 indicates no noticeable smell, while a 6 is unbearable.
The testers also make use of a sunshine simulator that brings up the temperature of the interior. Next, equipment is used to test for Total Volatile Organic Compounds. Only then does the team hop in and sniff from a human perspective.
Volvo's have always been known as the perfect vehicles for families with dogs. The connection between beast and Volvo is now clear.
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Cars
THE NOSES OF VOLVO
"Travelling in a car should be a pleasant experience for the nose as well."
These are the words of Patrik Libander, a Volvo engineer in charge of the smell test panel. Yes, the smell test panel.
Volvo has two four-man teams responsible for applying exhaustive smell tests on their cars. Efforts to build a device that could take the place of a human nose - or eight human noses - have failed. Capable humans are vetted as seriously as dogs for the K9 units of police forces. You must have a sense of smell in tune with others in your group; be sensitive but not overly so; and be a non-smoker.
Why is Volvo obsessed with scent? Say they, " The interior of a modern vehicle contains many different materials that contain chemical substances. While most of these substances remain locked in the material, small quantities can evaporate, creating that “new car smellâ€. The panel monitors these substances and the smells they may cause in the cabin." When a team sets forth to sniff out an interior, the car must rate no higher than a 3 to pass the test. A rating of 1 indicates no noticeable smell, while a 6 is unbearable.
The testers also make use of a sunshine simulator that brings up the temperature of the interior. Next, equipment is used to test for Total Volatile Organic Compounds. Only then does the team hop in and sniff from a human perspective.
Volvo's have always been known as the perfect vehicles for families with dogs. The connection between beast and Volvo is now clear.
- Volvo's Updated 2014 Xc70 D5 Awd Police Car Gets A Thumbs Up From Swedish Police
Swedish Police designated the 2014 Volvo XC70 D5 AWD as the best car in its fleet, with the wagon receiving an overall score of nine out of ten. The rating was awarded to the Volvo following exhaustive tests organized by the local police force. The Volvo...
- Volvo To Enter Australia's V8 Supercars Championship In 2014 [w/video]
Volvo announced on Monday that it will have an official Volvo Polestar Racing taking part in the 2014 season of Australia's V8 Supercars Championship. Two Volvo S60 V8 Supercars will be entered in the series that starts next year. Volvo Car Australia...
- New Photos Of 2013 Volvo V40 Hit The Web, Including First Shots Of The Interior
There's no end to the flow of official images of the new Volvo V40 hatchback. Following on from a pair of pictures we shared with you last Wednesday, we now have a new set with 16 high-resolution shots affording us the most comprehensive look at...
- Two Shall Enter, One Shall Leave: Geely And Volvo Disagree On Volvo's Future
Li Shufu, president of current Volvo owner, China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., appears to be having some issues with Volvo executives regarding the brand's future plans. According to Auto News Europe, there are two major issues: 1) the...
- Volvo S60 Concept Preview Image
In late October, The Good Car Guy expressed excitement over Volvo's S60 concept interior. Nobody was in any doubt that, for production, the crystal theme would have to go. But the shape was enough to excite. Volvo has now released preliminary images...