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The 2003 XC70 Motors to The Last Frontier
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| Volvo's Enduro Trans Alyeska! |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:25:17 |
| Rating |
 104 ( -15 -14.42% ) | | Author | Sue Mead |
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Description:
The 2003 XC70 Motors to The Last Frontier
Volvo's Enduro Trans Alyeska!
Writer's Notes
2003 Volvo XC70
MSRP: $41,880
Engine: 2.4-litre, 5 cylinder, light-pressure turbo
Transmission: five-speed adaptive automatic, with lock-up and winter mode
Wheelbase: 108.8 in.
Length: 186.3 in.
Width: 73.2 in.
Height: 61.5 in.
Weight: 3,699 lbs.
Fuel economy: 17 cty/22 hwy mpg (preliminary)
Major standard features: SIPS and WHIPS safety system, dual airbags, 20/40/20 rear seat split, rear facing child seat mount, AWD system, Pirelli tires.
Notable options: Cargo protection net, Air Quality System (AQS), trip computer, leather/versatility package savings.
How to Start an Alaskan Automobile:
Cheekaro: Owner, fresh from the states, dashes out at 7:45 a.m. full of optimism and energy, chops off enough ice from the windshield to form a peephole to be used as a sort of sight over the hood ornament (theory being that a line from the steering wheel over the hood ornament will guide one down the street), injects a pint of ether into the carburetor, pours a pint of alcohol into the tank, (takes a snort himself), and engages the starter which is connected to four truck batteries.
Result: Arrives for work three hours late.
Experimental: Owner becomes desperate, having tried everything, but arising early. He is now a gadgeteer. Installs crankcase heater, headbolt heater, deicers and fuel pump heater, as well as dip-stick heater and electric blanket off of mother-in-law's bed
Result: Heated vocabulary
Sourdough: The acceptable method tested by time.
1. Arises at 3 a.m. (reluctantly)
2. Digs car from the ice and snow
3. Kicks car soundly 3 or 4 times to establish respect for authority
4. Appears disinterested in whether or not car starts, lights a cigar using gadgets from the bonfire previously lighted to warm hands, hovers in the vicinity musing aloud about the beauty of the scenery.
5. Raises head, shakes head disapprovingly, mentions several reasons why the purchase of a new car is indicated
6. Kicks car soundly four or more times
7. Returns to house with feigned intention of remaining
8. Drinks a cup of coffee, being sure car can see him through the window
9. Nonchalantly saunters back and kicks car four more times
10. Prys open door with crowbar and removes icicles from dash, steering wheel and seat
11. Unobtrusively pulls choke out three or four feet
12. Turns ignition key on with pair of pliers. NOW-
13. (Hurriedly) jumping into car, he slams foot down on the accelerator, kicks car soundly with other foot three or four times, curses loudly, beats dash (preferably with hammer).
Result: Arrives at work only one hour late
Comments or suggestions about this review? Send an e-mail to: editor@autobytel.com
Autobytel Inc. operates the popular automotive websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com, and Autosite.com.
xxx
Deadhorse, Alaska: It's hard to image when you arrive in Deadhorse in the winter, but a few dozen people actually live in this town that lies on the Arctic Ocean, at the terminus of the remote gravel track euphemistically called the Dalton Highway. The rest -- thousands at a time -- work two weeks on and two weeks off supporting the oil field developments known as Prudhoe Bay.
Recently, an invitation came from Volvo to drive its latest version of the XC70 up this 500-mile-long legendary "haul road". The Swedes detailed what to expect: sub-zero temperatures - the record for Prudhoe Bay 73F; white outs; long days in the saddle; plenty of icy and slippery roads; kamikaze truckers; Dall sheep, caribou and polar bears (perhaps) along with breathtaking beauty and the Northern Lights-on a good night. I was eager to go and, although I had already driven this road both in winter and summer, I knew that it was a true test of man and machine and an experience like none other on the planet. It was not a road I ever expected to navigate on a test drive for a family station wagon.
The Dalton Highway is approximately 415 miles long and connects the Elliott Highway (north of Fairbanks) to Deadhorse which is the farthest north you can drive on Alaska's road system. This gravel track begins north of the town of Livengood, 84miles north of Fairbanks, is open to travelers all year, although accommodations are extremely limited. Therefore, it is imperative that all travelers and vehicles be well-equipped to deal with crossing its vastness, especially in the wintertime, and have both common sense and the appropriate gear. This wilderness route has little in the way of human habitation along the way.
Our group was outfitted with cold weather clothing and was given a "cold weather tips" lecture by Elliott Boston, who is embarking on conquering the world's seven summits. ("Stay in your car," he said.) Our XC70s were regular '03 models (with a new electronically controlled all wheel drive system that produces more horse power and torque), along with some added winter attributes - studded tires, block heaters and radio equipment.
We spent the first night south of Anchorage in the quaint village of Girdwood. While many of Girdwood's streets are dirt, and some of the cabin roofs in town sport sod and grasses (although all are laden with snow in the winter). The following day, our 500-mile-long drive took us past Cook inlet, where the majestic sunrise revealed Mt. Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, looming in the distance; by braided, glacial rivers and through ice-carved valleys, as we motored northward to modern-day Fairbanks. The panoramic views and the howling wind whetted our appetite for our drive up the ice-slicked Dalton Highway, where the major attraction is the Trans-Alaska pipeline.
Named for James William Dalton, an Arctic engineer involved in early oil exploration on the North Slope of Alaska, this roadway was built as a haul road between the Yukon River and Prudhoe Bay during construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline, and was originally called the North Slope Haul Road. Its steepest grade is 12 percent (a 12 foot rise in elevation for every 100 foot of travel) and its highest summit is Atigun Pass, at 4,800 feet. Construction began April 29, 1974, and was finished 5 months later. The road is 28 feet wide with 3-6 feet of gravel surfacing (some surface areas are now being paved, however). Some sections are underlain with plastic foam insulation to prevent thawing of the permafrost beneath it.
Starting off in the early hours of morning, we headed north to the mighty Yukon River. It was quickly apparent that the XC70 was up to the task of handling the slippery road surface, which left plenty of time and attention to take in the majestic scenery. At Mile Marker 115.3, we stopped to record our presence at the Arctic Circle photo site and headed to our lunch stop at nearby Coldfoot.
New features include a leather steering wheel, wood dash trim, power passenger seat, rainsensor wipers, along with an upgraded radio with CD and cassette. Crystal Green is a new color.
The Coldfoot complex, the northernmost truck stop in the United States, has facilities for truckers and tourists alike, with a homey restaurant, post office, a small gift shop that sells gold-nugget jewelry, and general store called "7-Eleven Below". Arctic Acres Inn provides basic lodging, with three small motels that have a total of 200 beds along with an RV park with hookups, picnic tables, a dump station, shower and a laundry facility. (This is a great summer description-in the winter, it's a snow-encrusted camp with icicles that look like they wouldn't melt until August.) While there, we downed some homey food, filled our fuel tanks with gas, and came to a consensus that "Cold foot" was aptly named, but because of our amply-heated Volvo V70s, we continued our pilgrimage toward the town with a name even more ominous-"Dead horse"!
Turning north from Coldfoot, a haunting message was posted along the roadway: The next available services are 244 miles to the north, it read. Although the region is basically uninhabited, Wiseman is 15 miles up the road from Coldfoot, where the 2000 census counted 21 people. Undaunted, we drove up Chandalar Shelf and through Atigun Pass, where the highway crosses the Continental Divide. The pass had been closed for twelve hours due to an avalanche, a frequent occurrence in the winter, so we held our breath and glided the XC70 over its winding track with ease, struck by the immensity of this white land and its beauty.
Traveling down over the rugged peaks of the Brooks Range, out onto the treeless plains of the North Slope, we finally drove into Deadhorse / Prudhoe Bay, and felt like we were at the top of the world. In the good weather, there can be an abundance of wildlife: moose, caribou, Dall sheep, bear, swans, geese, ducks, other waterfowl and eagles, along with snowshoe hares, Arctic ground squirrels, and even occasionally Musk Ox. We were not in good weather, however, arriving in a "white out" with a temperature of 51 below zero, and we saw only one Ptarmigan, the Alaskan state bird, and a couple of caribou.
In case you were wondering-- how about that V70 Cross Country? Well, there are few changes to Volvo's best-selling all-wheel drive wagon. The first is a name change-- it is now the rebadged the XC70, to be in-line with Volvo's "outdoorsy versatility vehicle" portfolio, which includes the all-new SUV, the XC90.
But, the biggest-- and truly significant change-- is this all-wheel-drive model is now equipped with the Haldex AWD system, the same system found in S60 AWD and XC90, and changes to its 2.4-liter light pressure turbo engine transform it into a 2.5 ULEV version, moving the horsepower needle from 197 bhp. to 208. New features include a leather steering wheel, wood dash trim, power passenger seat, rainsensor wipers, along with an upgraded radio with CD and cassette. Crystal Green is a new color.
When the first-generation Cross Country came to the roadways of America six years ago, little more than badging and a slightly raised roofline distinguished it from Volvo's V-series station wagon. Immediately noticeable about the second generation Cross Country, revamped for the 2001 model year, was its more rugged exterior styling and body cladding and increased height. The additional inch-plus of ground clearance gave it a more aggressive feel and greater accessibility in the backcountry. Clearance was certified at 8.2 inches, which compares favorably to popular American SUVs, such as the Ford Explorer (6.7 inches) and the Jeep Grand Cherokee (8.3). Oversized Pirelli tires (215/65 R16 Scorpion) and an upgraded suspension system supported its added stature, and provided improved traction on dirt roads and other low-traction surfaces.
Its all-wheel drive is truly at the heart of what sets the 2003 XC70 apart. In the newly reconfigured AWD system, torque is split with an electronic engagement of the mechanical differential, and is coupled with Dynamic Stability and traction control to provide increased stability for all-weather handling, even in driving conditions as extreme as the Alaskan "haul road" in the winter. A "TRACS" system monitors the vehicle and driving input to provide instant balance and response for compromised roadway conditions, such as a patch of ice or a deep puddle. A four-channel electronically controlled ABS system, with electronic brake distribution, helps insure optimum braking capabilities.
Under the hood the light pressure turbo engine, with 210 lb. ft. of torque, which is produced at engine speeds as low as 1,800 rpm, gives strong performance both on and off the pavement, and respectable fuel economy of 17/22 city/highway.
The wagon boasts Volvo's full host of safety features: SIPS (side impact airbag system), WHIPS (whiplash protection), dual stage airbags and LATCH child seat tethers. For small toddlers and infants in much less danger of injury if their car seat is facing rearward, Volvo has included two "ISOFIX" child seat mounts in the rear seating area, which fit virtually any child car seat. And, so you can keep an eye on your child while on the road, an ingenious rear mirror provides a glimpse into the rearward-facing seats. Additionally, because statistics show many deaths occur from luggage flying forward from the trunk, an available cargo protection net provides a durable barrier for luggage or the family dog.
Volvo's environmental commitment is equally forward thinking: 85 percent of the XC70's materials are recyclable. And, taking into consideration that some individuals are allergic to the gases released by the plastics in new vehicles, Volvo's interior textiles are free from any harmful substances and residual products, eliminating the usual "new car" smell. Also standard is a particle filter that traps pollen and soot particles, before the ventilation system can release them into the cabin. For those who truly care about their air quality, the optional, all-new PremAir system actually adds a coating to the radiator that converts ozone into oxygen.
Inside this five passenger wagon is a thoughtfully laid out, ergonomically-pleasing cabin, with a "world's first in its segment" split/ folding second seat (40-20-40) that allows quick stowage of awkward and lengthy items such as skis and canoe paddles. (We had none of these items, but found ample stowage for our gear and emergency supplies.) Especially convenient is an optional beverage cooler that sits in the center section of the rear seats, when the middle section is removed, that can hold two, two-liter bottles and be plugged into an electrical system, via a plug in the luggage compartment. An upgraded, roof-mounted cargo box uses sturdier materials than in the past.
This wagon version accounts for 60 percent of all Volvo wagon sales, with more than 40,000 units sold since its introduction. With this success under their belts, this Swedish manufacturer seems content to stick with its current formula that also included minor upgrades in '02: improved throttle response, refinements to the TRACS traction control system and an optional navigation system, as well as the Volvo Ocean Race special edition. Packages include a combination leather (chocolate brown with distinguished stitching) and versatility package (cargo protection net and security cover, plus a grocery bag holder).
There's not much to do in Deadhorse in the dead of winter, if you're not working the oil fields. (There are tours in the summer and much more to see.) But, for us, the trip up the famed Dalton Highway was to test the ruggedness of the new Volvo XC70 and to experience the glory of driving along a thin ribbon of gravel highway through some of the most remote and untouched land on the earth. Arriving at a temperature of 51 below, we celebrated that Volvo's awd family hauler conquered the "haul road". We then quickly left the harsh and magical world of The Last Frontier in our rear view mirrors.
--Photos Courtesy of Volvo North America
--Story by Sue Mead
Sue Mead works as a photojournalist and features writer for more than two dozen publications. She has written for Parade, Popular Science, Open Road, the Road & Track Buyers Guide, Men's Journal, Popular Mechanics and Diversion and she has worked as an auto editor for CNN/fn. Sue has co-driven in two of the world's toughest off-road races, the Baja 1000 and the Paris-Dakar Raid. She attended four Camel Trophy adventures for Land Rover North America and has participated in several long-distance adventure drives. She recently completed her first book, "Monster Trucks and Tractors" published by Chelsea House. Sue lives in New England. |
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