All-New Volvo S60 in the Belgian Touring Car Series

The new Volvo S60 gets ready for its racing debut. The Swedish carmaker revealed today that a racing version of the sedan will enter the 2010 Belgian Touring Car Series (BTCS).

The race version of the Volvo S60 has been developed in accordance with the BTCS regulations, meaning it has a tubular chassis, the same type of front and rear suspension and aerodynamics.

Power is provided by a mid-mounted 3.5-liter V6 engine with 410 hp (306 kW / 416 PS) and 412 Nm (304 lb-ft) of torque. It motivates the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential transmission.

"The all-new Volvo S60 sports sedan is Volvo's most exciting driving experience so far and there is no better way to show this than by bringing it to the race track. Volvo and the all-new S60 have a special place in the people's hearts here as several Volvo models, including the new S60, are built in Belgium at the Volvo Cars Ghent plant."






Press Release

Ready for the race track

Volvo Cars enters the all-new
Volvo S60 in the Belgian Touring Car Series

Just weeks after the all-new Volvo S60 was introduced to the public, the
latest Volvo model is also being unveiled in a racing version. Volvo Cars
Belgium will enter the new car in the 2010 season of the Belgian Touring Car
Series. Volvo fans will not need to wait long to see the latest model in
action since the premiere takes place on April 11.

"We are very happy about this development," says Bart Crols, Managing
Director at Volvo Cars Belgium. "The all-new Volvo S60 sports sedan is
Volvo's most exciting driving experience so far and there is no better way
to show this than by bringing it to the race track. Volvo and the all-new
S60 have a special place in the people's hearts here as several Volvo
models, including the new S60, are built in Belgium at theVolvo Cars Ghent
plant."

The new Volvo S60 race car has been developed in record time locally by
Volvo's Belgian S60 Racing Team. It has been developed in accordance with
the BTCS Silhouette S1 regulations which put a major emphasis on
standardised features. All cars must use a tubular chassis, the same type of
front and rear suspension and aerodynamics. A uniform type of engine
specification is also available but manufacturers are allowed to use own
engines.

The Volvo S60 Racing Team will also operate the car at all BTCS races and
the drivers are Vincent Radermecker and Eric Van De Poele.

Its maiden track test will take place on April 1 (today) on the Belgian
Zolder track.

"It has been a hectic period, but we have received great assistance from
Volvo Cars' Motorsport department" says Thomas Neri, Team Manager for the
Volvo S60 Racing Team. He continues: "Our main objective is to get up to
speed and to compete well in the various heats. Next season we hope to put
our own in-house developed engine in the car."

BTCS - low cost, high-performance racing

The BTCS is an endurance racing championship with six competitions on
tracks such as Spa-Francorchamps, Zolder and Dijon. Each race consists of
two 90-minute heats and there is also one 12-hour race in Spa. The all-new
Volvo S60 will face intense competition from the likes of BMW, Audi, Jaguar
and VW. BTCS has grown rapidly in terms of both competing brands and numbers
thanks to its low-cost, high-performance combination and, not least, the
fact that the cars have considerable visual appeal. The race series is
televised in several countries and is gaining in popularity.

"We will support and follow our development in this series very closely
as several other national championships are considering similar standardised
regulations in the future," says Derek Crabb, Motorsport Director at the
Volvo Car Corporation. "This BTCS campaign will give us a good understanding
of what these types of regulations can mean for Volvo."

Technical Specification Volvo S60 BTCS

• Regulation: BTCS Silhouette S1


• Chassis: Tubular frame


• Front Suspension: Independent with 3-way adjustable shock absorbers


• Rear Suspension: Independent with 3-way onboard adjustable shock
  absorbers


• Brakes: 6-piston callipers, 380 mm discs at the front and 6-piston
  callipers, 355 mm discs at the rear


• Engine: Mid-mounted standardised 3500 cc V6


• Engine Power Output: 410 hp with 412 Nm at 5500rpm


• Gearbox: Six-speed sequential. Rear-wheel drive


• Wheels: 10" X 18" front and 12" X 18" rear


• Tyres: Michelin 27/65/18 front and Michelin 30/65/18 rear

2010 Racing Calendar for the all-new Volvo S60 in the BTCS series

• April 9-11 Zolder


• April 30-May 2 Dijon-Prenois


• June 4-6 Spa-Francorchamps


• July 9-10 Spa-Francorchamps


• September 17-19 Spa-Francorchamps


• October 8-10 Zolder

More information about the Belgian Touring Car Series:
http://www.btcseries.be/

2011 Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle Pricing Releases

Nissan announced that its upcoming Leaf electric vehicle will sell for $32,780, plus $800 destination. A $7,500 federal tax credit for electric cars will bring the total cost down to $25,280. A three-year lease will be available for $349 a month.

Available in two trim levels, standard SV and uplevel SL, all Leaf SVs will come with navigation, remote start and remote charging operated through a smart phone app or laptop computer, LED headlamps, Bluetooth, Intelligent Key, vehicle dynamic control, traction control, six airbags, XM Satellite Radio and 3 years roadside assistance.

Part of the product package includes personal charging docks which work with normal 220-volt sockets. A charging dock should cost about US$2,200 but both the equipment and installation are eligible for a 50% federal tax credit of up to $2,000.

Starting April 20, interested customers who have signed up at nissanusa.com can put down a refundable $99 reservation fee. Official ordering doesn't start until August with deliveries scheduled to start in December. The Leaf goes on sale nationwide by the end of 2011.





Press Release

NISSAN DELIVERS AFFORDABLE SOLUTIONS FOR PURCHASE, LEASE OF
ALL-ELECTRIC NISSAN LEAF

• As low as $25,280 ($32,780 MSRP minus up to $7,500 federal tax
  credit)
• Lease world's first mass-marketed EV for $349 per month

Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today announced U.S. pricing for the
2011 Nissan LEAF electric vehicle, which becomes available for purchase or
lease at Nissan dealers in select markets in December and nationwide in
2011. Nissan will begin taking consumer reservations for the Nissan LEAF
April 20.

Including the $7,500 federal tax credit for which the Nissan LEAF will be
fully eligible, the consumer's after-tax net value of the vehicle will be
$25,280. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price *(MSRP) for the 2011
all-electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF is $32,780, which includes three
years of roadside assistance. Additionally, there is an array of state and
local incentives that may further defray the costs and increase the benefits
of owning and charging a Nissan LEAF - such as a $5,000 statewide tax rebate
in California; a $5,000 tax credit in Georgia; a $1,500 tax credit in
Oregon; and carpool-lane access in some states, including California.

As a result of aggressive pricing and the availability of the $7,500
federal tax credit whose benefit is immediately included, Nissan will be
able to offer a monthly lease payment beginning at $349, not including state
or local incentives, which could further reduce the net cost of the Nissan
LEAF.

"Imagine the possibility of never needing to go to a gas station again.
Or of paying less than $3 for 100 miles behind the wheel. Or of creating
zero emissions while driving," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president,
Sales and Marketing, NNA. "Nissan leads the industry by offering the first
affordable, zero-emission vehicle for the mass market. Nissan LEAF truly is
in a class by itself."

The vehicle at the SV trim level is well-equipped with a variety of
standard features, including an advanced navigation system and
Internet/smart phone connectivity to the vehicle, enabling pre-heat/pre-cool
and charging control. Nissan LEAF is equipped with energy-efficient LED
headlights and makes extensive use of recycled and recyclable materials,
such as seat fabric, instrument panel materials, and front- and rear-bumper
fascias. Other standard amenities include Bluetooth connectivity;
Intelligent-key with push button start; Sirius/XM satellite radio
capabilities and roadside assistance. Safety features include vehicle
dynamic control (stability control), traction control and six airbags. The
SL trim level, available for an additional $940 (MSRP), adds features
including rearview monitor, solar panel spoiler, fog lights, and automatic
headlights.

Reservations and Purchase

In order to ensure a one-stop-shop customer experience, Nissan is carefully
managing the purchase process from the first step, when consumers sign up on
NissanUSA.com, until the customer takes the Nissan LEAF home and plugs it
into a personal charging dock.

• Nissan begins accepting reservations on April 20 first from people
  who have signed up on NissanUSA.com, and, after a brief introductory
  period, to all interested consumers.

• Consumers will be required to pay a $99 reservation fee, which is
  fully refundable.

• Reserving a Nissan LEAF ensures consumers a place in line when
  Nissan begins taking firm orders in August, as well as access to
  special, upcoming Nissan LEAF events.

• Rollout to select markets begins in December, with nationwide
  availability in 2011.

Charging Equipment

In tandem with the purchase process, Nissan will offer personal charging
docks, which operate on a 220-volt supply, as well as their installation.
Nissan is providing these home-charging stations, which will be built and
installed by AeroVironment, as part of a one-stop-shop process that includes
a home assessment.

• The average cost for the charging dock plus installation will be
  $2,200.

• Charging dock and installation are eligible for a 50 percent federal
  tax credit up to $2,000.

• Using current national electricity averages, Nissan LEAF will cost
  less than $3 to "fill up."

• Nissan LEAF also will be the sole vehicle available as part of The
  EV Project, which is led by EV infrastructure provider eTec, a division
  of ECOtality, and will provide free home-charging stations and
  installation for up to 4,700 Nissan LEAF owners in those markets.

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive design,
engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing,
distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the
environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are
reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling.
More information on the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at
www.NissanUsa.com.

MSRP excludes applicable tax, title and license fees. Dealer sets
actual price. Prices and specs are subject to change without notice.