All New Volvo Models Now Have A 112mph Top Speed Limiter
If you buy any new Volvo, you won’t be able to drive it over 112mph. Having announced its intention to introduce a 180kmh electronic speed limiter last year, the Swedish company has confirmed that all its models now include the cap.
In addition to the new electronically-imposed top speed, every Volvo is now supplied with a ‘Care Key’. This lets you set even lower limits, just in case you have self-control issues, or are perhaps going to lend the car to someone less experienced. And/or untrustworthy.
Is the imposed limit - much lower than the industry’s de rigueur 155mph buffers - actually an issue? Probably not. Even Volvo’s sportier models like the V60 T8 Engineered by Polestar don’t exactly lend themselves to track work or Vmax-style airfield runs, and unless you’re driving on a de-restricted chunk of German autobahn, hitting that 112mph limiter is probably going to involve illegal speeds.
Volvo’s move pre-empts new EU legislation which will see all new cars fitted with mandatory speed limiters from 2022, with pre-existing models complying by 2024. Unlike Volvo’s new 112mph cap, these will adapt to the speed limit of whichever road the car is driving on, with drivers given the ability to override them.
In a press release, Volvo said of its new top speed limiters:
“The top speed limit has proven to be controversial since it was announced, with some observers questioning the rights of car makers to impose such limitations through available technology.
Yet Volvo Cars believes it has an obligation to continue its tradition of being a pioneer in the discussion around the rights and obligations of car makers to take action that can ultimately save lives, even if this means losing potential customers.
The problem with speeding is that above certain speeds, in-car safety technology and smart infrastructure design are no longer enough to avoid severe injuries and fatalities in the event of an accident.”
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Going the JDM route I see. Well especially with guys like team Critical it makes sense they’d do this. And realistically. Who’d to go over 180 in a Volvo? Most who’d need that drive German anyway.
my house has a volvo that does around 230… why wouldnt someone want to go over 180? In any car really?
Lets face it, given that most countries speed limits are at least 30 mph lower than this: no one can really complain, as the standard response will be why do you need to go over 112 mph, when the legal limit is 70mph?
As long as they don’t mess with acceleration, I’m sure we’ll manage
because locally at least, when you need to pass 6 trucks on a single carriage high way, you tend to go in excess of 130 when doing so safely
Locally at least
because screw the speed limits. They are stupid, too low, and outdated as hell
While this does make sense when it comes to safety, I think it might put the sportier models at a disadvantage in the German market
Not just the German market, most sporty car owners go over the speed limit frequently, and part of what makes Volvos interesting is the fact that they’re sporty and fast but don’t necessarily look like it. If I want a big slow car there’s many alternatives with decent interiors, their sales won’t go down only in Germany.
Boo 😒
i know that what i am going to say does not apply to at least 99% of car owners, but it applies to me: I like to track my cars, so thats a solid no to any volvo for me.
i dont anyone buys a modern volvo to track..
My eyes couldn’t roll harder than this. 😒
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Their sales in Germany are about to plummet
seeing as these cars are for “Non Car People” I doubt most volvo owners even get to 100, so it doesn’t really matter!
Crash at 112 mph is still deadly.
Makes sense really. Most normal people might go up to 100mph on a late night motorway blast. Over that it’s a instant ban anyway.
And people who want to go fast just remap the limiter out, simples.