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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Get a look inside the Holly Theatre Jackson County restaurant inspections for November 2014 Watch for work along South Oakdale next week SOU business students seek research projects 10 things to know for Friday Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Medford police investigating 'bizarre' shots-fired incident One of two runaway Ashland teens may be with California man Emergency services Nurse sentenced after running over boyfriend Politics and Elections GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means East Medford's the charm Pot, GMOs unite south Jackson County Buckley again named Ways and Means Committee co-chairman Education Medford school administrators get pay boost Students put their hearts into AIDS event Kitzhaber calls for early education spending in budget proposal Medford leans toward three-quarter-day kindergarten Building audits will help district save energy, and money Environment Advisory warns of blue-green algae bloom at Lost Creek Lake County calls for local control of federal lands Most dredging banned under new proposed guidelines Hawks use I-5 as hunting ground Curbing urban runoff in Gold Hill State News Bend hospital: Medication error killed patient Lawsuit: Pregnant woman fired for restroom breaks Ante for rulemaking on Oregon pot: nearly $600,000 Oregon Master Gardeners mum on legal pot Study: Killing wolves means more livestock attacks Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Edwina Agnes Jenkins Marie B. (Aiken) Cory Davis Stella Demo Geraldine Frances Ritchie Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories South Medford girls tumble in tournament Aldridge, Lillard lead Blazers past Pacers, 88-82 No. 17 Beavers remain unbeaten, top Idaho Ducks win opener over Santa Clara Murray, Romo lead Cowboys over Bears, 41-28 Varsity 541 College Sports No. 17 Beavers remain unbeaten, top Idaho Ducks win opener over Santa Clara Riley Bolts OSU football coach hired by Nebraska Riley to Huskers raises several questions Pro Sports Aldridge, Lillard lead Blazers past Pacers, 88-82 Murray, Romo lead Cowboys over Bears, 41-28 Woods stumbles to a 77 in his return 76ers avoid worst start in history Cowboys look to bounce back against Bears Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Blog: A Time for Tradition SOU business students seek research projects Downtown property owners would fund economic development district in Medford MBA candidates lend their talents to clients for free Blog: Costco closed Thanksgiving, but Nov. sales grew Real Estate News More sales, but no change in residential housing median price Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Financial webinars offered for veterans and their families People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 People in Business, Nov. 18 People in Business, Nov. 8 Transportation Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Medford airport passenger counts sky high in October Erickson reports third quarter profit Agriculture Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Opinion Latest Amy Gehrt: Time to admit there’s a problem with our justice system Our View: Oregon budget should plan for rain Letters to the Editor, Dec. 5 Granlund cartoon: Justice and Eric Garner Kent Bush: Do you want fries with that sermon? Editorials Our View: Oregon budget should plan for rain Our View: Cheers and jeers Our View: Stay flexible on kindergarten hours Our View: Waiting for someone else to step up Our View: What's in a name? Not that much, really Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 5 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 4 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 3 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 2 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 1 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: It's time Oregon put a price on carbon Guest Opinion: Are we the preferred path to global devastation? Guest Opinion: Fight for the rights of independent voters will continue Guest Opinion: 'Natural' not necessarily better for forest management Guest Opinion: County voters rebuffed judicial appointment process Lifestyle Latest stories Fishing report: Friday, Dec. 5, 2014 Looking Up: The Man in the Moon looks your way Get Out: Friday, December 5 Stylish on the Snow Duck stamp increase closer to reality Food Community blog: Merry Christmas 10 Barrel! (Big Brewery vs Small Independent Brewer) Community blog: Lentil cooking water doubles as soup stock 'Amazing' Soup Roxy Ann winemaker has roots in Napa Valley Community blog: Post-holiday soups easy on the budget, waistline Home and Garden Troubleshoot common water boiler problems Dear Monty: Ten helpful home-listing tips Home Help: Luxurious upgrades don’t have to break the bank 9 ways to green your gift wrap Dear Monty: How to find a good real estate attorney Health Dr. Murray Feingold: Say it like you mean it Community blog: Guiltless Holidays Better for our Health HealthStyle: Develop an attitude of gratitude Health Watch: Fuel up on carbs before workouts Health insurance enrollment help available Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Religion news: Seattle-based mega-church dissolves Religion Briefs 'Walk the talk' Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Hire 'em and pray for snow Madi-Stiles A New Song Rogers-Horn New Arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Bedford Falls comes to life at Randall SOU presents all-percussion concert Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Theater Bedford Falls comes to life at Randall Camelot presents 'Fiddler on the Roof' OCT's holiday show is a wonderful play New 'Alice' has some for kids ... and adults 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Music SOU presents all-percussion concert Shae Johnson releases 'Can You Feel the Music' Jeff Kloetzel releases 'Long Time Coming' A new guitar slinger in town Peter Chianca: Top 40 songs even a dad could love Community Events Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists 2014 Providence Festival of Trees A grand illumination at the Commons Lighting up memories Dining Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock Word of Mouth: Brunch at Brothers' Restaurant Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Oregon budget should plan for rain ... OSU football coach hired by Nebraska ... Downtown property owners would fund economic development district in Medford ... Our View: Oregon budget should plan for rain ... OSU football coach hired by Nebraska ... Downtown property owners would fund economic development district in Medford ... Volvo V60 R-Design is all work, all play By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Oct. 27, 2014 @ 7:21 am By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Oct. 27, 2014 @ 7:21 am » Social News The V60 is the vagon, er, wagon version of Volvo’s S60 junior-executive sedan. It’s available here in several trim levels and three models. The starter V60, somewhat misleadingly called the T5 Drive-E, has a four-cylinder engine and no electric boost, but it is turbocharged to 240 horsepower. With front-wheel-drive only and an eight-speed automatic transmission, it is capable of high fuel efficiency. The mid-level V60 T5 AWD, on the other hand, really does have a five-cylinder engine (also turbocharged, and good for 250 horsepower), along with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission. The third model, this T6 AWD R-Design, with a 3.0-liter turbo V-6 rated for 325 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque and a six-speed autobox, sits atop the V60 line. It ticks every box on the involved driver’s wish list, and it is to squared-off Volvo mom-bombs of yore as chocolate truffle cheesecake is to pumpernickel. Like smooth cheesecake, this Volvo disappears fast. Off the line, the T6 R-Design flings itself toward the horizon with distinctly un-Swedish abandon, its twin-scroll turbocharger making immediate power and its torque-vectoring AWD applying it to the ground with grip all around. The acceleration just keeps coming. While you’re enjoying this, corners come up awfully quickly, and then a gentle but firm push on the brakes, to rub off speed; an intuitive evolution into the bend—unaware of turning the wheel, no body lean to speak of, no over- or understeer—a flick of the left-hand shifter paddle, to change down, and then pour on the throttle as the road straightens out. The deep-dish leather chair keeps the driver anchored, and the view out the raked windshield and past the skinny A-pillars is reassuring. This may be a wagon, but it thinks it’s a rally car. A deluxe rally car. The other two V60s get high marks for ride and handling, but what puts the R-Design on a higher plane is its thorough fine-tuning by Polestar, Volvo’s racing and performance partner. This is an exception to the old rule that Volvos can be driven fast, but not hard. If there’s a price to pay—beyond the sticker, that is—it’s in fuel efficiency that drops into the high teens in city driving. For an AWD wagon, the V60 is neither long nor tall, nor all that heavy either. Good engineering can make even massive SUVs dance, but at a cost of more weight and more complexity. The V60 needs considerably less such attention, but its size can play against it too. If “wagon” means to you a roomy vehicle for the family, the dog and a vacation’s worth of flip-flops and beach toys, look elsewhere—to the Volvo V70, for example. The cargo bay of the V60 is smaller than some sedan trunks and the back seats are best for two, not three, people. Think hip empty-nesters or DINKS (double income, no kids) with ski condos. To go with its sexy body, on the inside the R-Design cabin is as functional and luxurious as a premium European car’s ought to be—if toned down a bit by Scandinavian minimalism. Volvo’s long menu of safety, convenience and luxury upgrades for the V60 can rapidly move the sticker from a low of around $35,000 for the base T5 Drive-E to $45,000 for the sophisticated R-Design and to 50 grand and beyond, with the Climate and Technology packages or the all-inclusive Platinum trim. Volvo calls this V60 a “2015.5” model, thanks to a mid-year refresh that puts the latest generation of infotainment (Sensus Connect) and telematics on every car. This includes a smartphone app—Volvo On Call—that can send the car’s location, the status of its windows and door locks, trip information and fuel level and use to iOS, Android and Windows devices. It can also pre-program the navigation system, start the engine remotely and blow the horn and flash the lights to summon help. After what seemed to be a long transition to new ownership, this 2015-and-a-half V60 is a strong sign that not only has Volvo gotten its feet under itself again, it’s also not abandoned one of its core competencies, the station wagon. 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 MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Oct. 27, 2014 @ 7:21 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 MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked 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 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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