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3 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 Medford schools superintendent gets high marks Since You Asked: School zone speed limit always 20 mph Emergency Services, March 3 St. Mary's robotics team qualifies for state competition Ninth Street crash in Grants Pass claims life of 19-year-old woman Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, March 3 California homicide leads to arrest in Talent Fire torches trailer of hay off Crater Lake Avenue Volunteers help police nab three graffiti suspects in a week Emergency services, March 2 Politics and Elections Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Education Medford schools superintendent gets high marks St. Mary's robotics team qualifies for state competition LIFEArt plans to open gallery in Medford MSD considers adding a health center at one of the city's high schools Absenteeism in Oregon schools prompts bill that would tie funding to attendance, not enrollment Environment The new normal under climate change? Lost Creek Lake algae bloom subsides Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday State News Appeals court upholds protection for threatened seabird after timber industry challenge Oregon House votes to ban sale of e-cigarettes to minors Oregon considers banning non-medical vaccine exemptions Bill to dissolve Cover Oregon heads to Governor Brown Oregon official says he was questioned by FBI, IRS Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Clara "Jackie" Bean Mae Kathleen Quaccia Joseph (Joe) Torres Margaret M. Moffitt Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Virginia garners ACC crowns with victory over Syracuse Kersey remembered at service Tempers flare in Heat win over Suns RESULTS / STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Varsity 541 College Sports Virginia garners ACC crowns with victory over Syracuse Raiders play for tourney title tonight Learning Curve Ducks beat Cardinal, clinch Pac-12 tourney bye Oregon upsets No. 19 Stanford Pro Sports Kersey remembered at service Tempers flare in Heat win over Suns To tag or not to tag an NFL quandary Kings Conquered Poulter, Casey share lead at Honda Community Sports Business Latest Stories Local businesses still feeling effects of port slowdown Blog: Costco teams up with Citi for its next credit card Silvio Calabi: Volvo XC60 is sexy safety in an SUV Business Briefs: Feb. 28 People in Business: Feb. 28 Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business People in Business Transportation Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Medford airport flies past January record Agriculture Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, March 3 Michael Gerson: Scott Walker's cynical comments on faith Kent Bush: Minnie Minoso was famous for the right reasons Matthew T. Mangino: Bite-mark analysis — science or charlatanry Letters to the Editor, March 2 Editorials Our View: Drawing back the curtain on government Other Views: Brown's list of challenges is lengthy Our View: School attendance bill could backfire Our View: Higher education still getting too little Our View: Adjusting for unintended consequences Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 3 Letters to the Editor, March 2 Letters to the Editor, March 1 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 28 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 27 Columns Michael Gerson: Scott Walker's cynical comments on faith Kent Bush: Minnie Minoso was famous for the right reasons Dana Milbank: Jeb Bush, CPAC pinata Charles Krauthammer: The fatal flaw in the Iran deal GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Guest Opinions GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Guest Opinion: Don't overregulate Oregon's hemp industry Guest Opinion: Predatory banking practices bilk citizens Guest Opinion: Is less education the answer? Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Lifestyle Latest stories Dr. Elaine Heffner: How much freedom should we allow kids? Food for Thought: Get creative with after-school snacks 'She Stoops' rises on SOU stage Paul Rogers: Looking for signs of new life Blog: Happiest birthday to the dearest of Seusses Food Food for Thought: Get creative with after-school snacks Gail Ciampa: Curried cauliflower soup gets creaminess from coconut Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Community blog: Support local CSA farms by signing up Saturday Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Cheeseburger pie is the perfect winter comfort food Home and Garden Paul Rogers: Looking for signs of new life Home Help: Enhance your home-office experience Specialty painting adds wow to your walls Dear Monty: Home seller questions agent ethics Home Help: Low-maintenance landscaping ideas Health HealthStyle: Marriage care and maintenance Community blog: How I Became Radical: The Power of Acceptance Community blog: The Guest List: Check! Health Watch: Sticking to your health plan when your family isn’t helping Community blog: Finding Your Indomitable Spirit to Defeat Addiction Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories TMTO presents 'Bye Bye Birdie' Ashland High School presents 'Leading Ladies' Live Music in Local Clubs HAPA plays the Historic Ashland Armory An all-new Rising Stars music competition kicks off this weekend Theater 'Guys and Dolls' a sure bet for dazzling entertainment 'She Stoops' rises on SOU stage TMTO presents 'Bye Bye Birdie' Review: OSF elevates the neglected 'Pericles' Review: In "Much Ado," why not let Shakespeare be Shakespeare? Music Ashland High School presents 'Leading Ladies' Rogue Valley Symphony showcases Anton Bruckner and Richard Wagner Live Music in Local Clubs HAPA plays the Historic Ashland Armory An all-new Rising Stars music competition kicks off this weekend Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Get Up & Go: Tuesday, March 3 ... Ninth Street crash in Grants Pass claims life of 19-year-old woman ... Ashland cell tower hearing postponed ... Get Up & Go: Tuesday, March 3 ... Ninth Street crash in Grants Pass claims life of 19-year-old woman ... Ashland cell tower hearing postponed ... Silvio Calabi: Volvo XC60 is sexy safety in an SUV By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Mar. 2, 2015 @ 6:29 am By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Mar. 2, 2015 @ 6:29 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> 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 MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Mar. 2, 2015 @ 6:29 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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. 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