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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Guthrie kicks off fundraising drive Four premieres and five Bard plays to highlight Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2016 season Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Ashland Fire & Rescue: New column about Ashland emergency services debuts Education Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Teacher's Tips: Who gets to teach history? Northwest Pizza to raise money for Ashland Schools Foundation Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Ashland's Standing Stone brew pub joins green beer coalition Cars We Remember: 1967 Rambler Rebel, 1960 Rambler American Super, and some early engine design flaws Silvio Calabi: Nissan has a winner with its new Murano Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Norman Christlieb Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Sports Latest Stories Guthrie kicks off fundraising drive Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizz bats heat up in Bend Kansas City Royals star pitcher Jeremy Guthrie visits Ashland to kickoff fundraising campaign Ducks enjoy the challenge High school Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Fredrickson leads Grizzlies to season-opening romp Grizz alpine skiers finish strong at state Southern Oregon University Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Oregon State women come up short in second-round loss to Gonzaga Raiders roughed up at Corban Voices Latest Stories Our View: How it should work Letters to the Editor, March 25 Rick Holmes: What addicts say about getting high and getting better Landgren cartoon: Arsenic wine Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Editorial Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Our view: Keep it simple in developing marijuana rules Letters Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Letters to the Editor, March 18 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Columns Council Corner: Getting to yes or no — or maybe Chris Honoré: 'Like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out ...' Herb Rothschild: Donating with care Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Matthew T. Mangino: When is a confession not a confession? Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Best bets for entertainment around Ashland, March 19 Theater The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Ticket Availability Camelot Theatre in Talent: This 'Sunset' is not as dark Ticket availability Ticket availability Music Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 More wonderful wrinkles at 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' 8 must-see spring films Movie review: ‘Wrecking Crew’ is a look at the people who really put the bomp Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Dear Monty: The best real estate agent referrals Dave Ramsey: Pay kids for getting good grades? Lost in Suburbia: Above and beyond the call of nature Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Season Stepp: Waffle iron isn’t just for breakfast anymore Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: How it should work ... Four premieres and five Bard plays to highlight Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2016 season ... Southern Oregon University names director of marketing ... Our View: How it should work ... Four premieres and five Bard plays to highlight Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2016 season ... Southern Oregon University names director of marketing ... Silvio Calabi: Volvo XC60 is sexy safety in an SUV Comment By Silvio Calabi More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Mar. 2, 2015 at 6:32 AM By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Mar. 2, 2015 at 6:32 AM » Social News It’s smart to buy a car born in the sort of climate we enjoy at home. Volvo and winter, for instance, go together like gin and olives, or Toll House cookies and milk. An engineer from Sweden knows in his bones that, say, cold-weather visibility can be a challenge. That’s why embedded in our Volvo XC60’s windshield is a nearly invisible grid of wires. Pushing the front-defrost switch once sends current through this wiring, to melt ice and condensation without diverting heat from the cabin. If things get really bad, or we’re shoveling snow while the XC60 warms up in the driveway, pushing the button again adds the usual blast of hot air from the ducts atop the dashboard. Two-stage defrosting — with heated windshield-washer nozzles, also part of the $1,550 Climate Package — is a modern Volvo solution to an old problem, and one that neatly marries safety (visibility) and comfort. Being safe helps make us comfortable, and safety isn’t just hype at Volvo. In 1959 the company began putting three-point seatbelts in cars, and it waived its patent so that other carmakers could use the belts at no charge. Today, just about everything in a Volvo is designed for safety and comfort, but even now some of these features are surprisingly obvious. For example, Volvo puts beefy, one-size-fits-all headrests on its front seats because most adjustable headrests get set too high. (Lean back; the cushion should touch just below your ears.) Not obvious at all, however, is City Safety, a system that magically brings a Volvo to a self-stop when a computer decides that an accident is about to happen. At more than 30 mph it may not be able to halt the car completely, but it will greatly reduce the impact. Dan Johnson, Volvo’s press chief, used to point through the windshield and say, “Go ahead, try to run into that car up there. No, really! Just try it!” I never had the guts to do it, but by now City Safe — standard on all new Volvos — has proved itself over and over. Our XC60, a T6 AWD model, bristled with optional safety gear too, such as BLIS, Blind Spot Information System, a $900 add-on that includes Lane Change Merge Aid, a two-stage light near each door mirror that signals when it’s safe to move over; rear cross-traffic alert; and parking sensors. (Last year BLIS switched from cameras in the mirrors to radar units behind the rear wheels, so it sees farther and better in low visibility.) More safety gear comes with the Platinum upgrade: Xenon headlamps, with halogen auxiliaries, that are highly steerable, very bright and sharply focused. Road Sign Information, which posts the local speed limit in the driver’s screen and adds a little red indicator to the speedometer. Adaptive cruise control. Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake (a supplement to City Safe). Pedestrian/Cyclist Detection. Lane Departure Warning. Automatic high beams. With these options and a few more, a $43K-base XC60 T6 AWD reaches $52,225. Even in Sweden, it seems capitalism wins out — poorer people have to pay more attention while driving! They’re not as coddled, either; the Platinum Package also includes perks ranging from grocery-bag holders and a power liftgate to keyless ignition and power folding side mirrors with lights. So much for Socialism. ... The XC60 debuted in the U.S. in 2009 as a midsize sibling to Volvo’s smash-hit big XC90 crossover ute. Since then, although it looks the same, about every bit of the XC60 has been changed and improved, and the model line has expanded. For 2015, more economical Drive-E engines became available, and this half-step “2015.5” upgrade brings a new infotainment system and remote access via a smartphone app. However, the “old” T6 drivetrain, a 300HP turbo Six hooked to a six-speed Geartronic transmission with shift paddles, remains a jewel — smooth-revving and powerful without being pushy or peaky. Overall, this elegant vehicle is much more than just the sum of its components and capabilities. No, it doesn’t have the power and performance of the Audi SQ5 or BMW V-8 X5, but it costs a lot less while sharing their vitality, comfort and practicality. The XC60 T6 AWD is very easy to like, and maybe even to love. Likes - Jewel-like T6 engine - Sweet-spot size - Born and bred for bad weather Dislikes - Bewildering digital controls - Even for 300HP, 17-24 mpg is no longer enough Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is a member of the International Motor Press Association whose automotive reviews date back to the Reagan administration. He is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at [email protected]. By Silvio Calabi More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Mar. 2, 2015 at 6:32 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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