Volvo V70 Owner's Manual page 99

All-Wheel Drive (four-wheel drive), Active chassis, FOUR-C
AWD - All Wheel Drive (option)
The all wheel drive on your Volvo is always
engaged and corresponds to the very high
demands made on technical solutions. Used
correctly all wheel drive gives the driver greater
possibilities to solve situations in different road
conditions compared to conventional front or
rear wheel drive.
All wheel drive means that the vehicle drives
simultaneously on all four wheels. Power is
distributed automatically between the front and
rear wheels. An electronically controlled clutch
system distributes the power to the wheel pair
that has the best grip in the prevailing road
conditions. This is to give the best possible grip
and prevent wheel spin.
In normal driving condition the majority of the
power is distributed to the front wheels.
The improved front wheel drive increases road
safety in rain, snow and icy conditions.
Tyre dimensions and air pressure
Volvo recommends that you only drive with tyres
of the same brand, dimensions, specifications
and with the same load and speed designation.
Air pressure can be read from the table on the
inside of the fuel filler flap. See page 109.
Snow chains
Snow chains may only be fitted to the front
wheels on cars equipped with all wheel drive.
Only chains adapted for AWD models may be
used.
9 6
Important!
Only Volvo-approved snow chains are
permitted. Use of other snow chains could
damage your car.
Never drive faster than 50 km/h when
snow chains are fitted!
Never use "quick links" because the space
between the disc brakes and the wheels is
too small.
Active chassis – FOUR-C*
The R version is equipped with the advanced,
electronically-controlled active chassis system
FOUR-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis
Concept). System functions are based on a
number of sensors which continuously adjust
vehicle movements and reactions, for example
vertical and lateral acceleration, vehicle speed
and wheel movement.
The FOUR-C control unit analyses data from
the sensors and performs the necessary shock
absorber setting adjustments up to 500 times per
second. This results in extremely fast and accurate
individual shock absorber control, which explains
how chassis characteristics can be varied.
The buttons on the dashboard (see the illustration
on page 32) can be used at random in order to
select from the three different settings: Comfort,
Sport and Advanced.
The driver can adjust the chassis characteristics
while driving - when switching driving style or
when the character of the road surface changes.
Adjustments occur within a few milliseconds.
The effect which occurs when depressing the
accelerator pedal is related to the chassis setting
selection: the Advanced setting provides a
quicker acceleration response.
Comfort
Comfort adjusts the chassis setting so that the
body is insulated from uneven sections of the
road surface, which allows for better glide.
Shock absorption is softer and body move-
ments are minimal. This setting is recommen-
ded for long-distance driving or driving on
slippery road surfaces.
When the ignition is switched off in Comfort
setting, the chassis will resume the same mode
when the car is re-started.
Sport
The Sport setting provides quicker steering
response than the Comfort setting. The
suspension is harder and the body follows the
road in order to reduce roll during rapid cornering.
When the ignition is switched off in Sport
setting, the chassis will resume the same mode
when the car is re-started.
Advanced
With the Advanced setting, shock absorber
movements are minimal and optimised for
maximum traction and minimal roll when
cornering. This setting is recommended for flat,
even road surfaces only. Response to accelera-
tion is more direct and the automatic gearbox
shift schedule is sportier.
When the ignition is switched off in Advanced
setting, the chassis will resume the same mode
when the car is re-started.
*R version only.