Volvo Calls All Pirates To Join The Hunt

Volvo Car Corporation calls all pirates, scallywags100,000 participants from around the world joined
and treasure fanatics to join The Hunt!, ain," said Linda Gangeri, national advertising manager
competition is in connection with the movie Piratesfor Volvo Cars of North America. "This year, with
of the Caribbean: At World's End which opens inmore countries, more booty and all the early
theatres on May 25. The company earlierinterest, we're really excited to set sail.' So, come
announced the online search for a sunkenjoin The Hunt!"
treasure chest containing $50,000 in gold piecesThe Volvo brand has already established a
and the keys to a new Volvo XC90 luxury SUVreputation for comfort, safety and longevity. And
will begin May 4 and the company is challengingsuch qualities are imbibed in the XC90, a mid-size
Canadians and registrants from 21 other countriesluxury crossover SUV. It is based on the Volvo
to find it.P2 platform, shared with the S80 and other larger
The online hunt is the second in Volvo'sVolvos. For this model year, the XC90 was
partnership with Disney's Pirates of the Caribbeanupdated to cover refined parts accessories like
movie franchise and it's the first time thethe Volvo fog light, subtly-restyled front and rear,
competition has been open to Canadians. Lastand a more comfy interior.
year's program was limited to residents of theAccording to Russ Rader, spokesman for the
United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Spain andInsurance Institute for Highway Safety, US study
Austria. In addition to the US, Austria, Bulgaria,showed that Volvo's safety has been slipping.
Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy,Additionally, Finland’s Safety Technology
Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway,Authority (TUKES) stressed that of Volvo 440
Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore,and 460’s structure manufactured
Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Kingdombetween 1993 and 1995 had caused several
are participating in The Hunt.cases of flare-ups during refueling. Dan Johnston,
To join Volvo’s The Hunt, participants 18Volvo’s spokesman, denied that the
years of age and older must visit a Volvo retailercompany's vehicles are any less safe than the
to pick up a special pirate chart and register at [Institute's top-rated vehicles. He said, "It’s
any time between May 4 and May 29. Oncejust a philosophy on safety that is different from
registered, participants set sail on a virtual highbuilding cars to pass these kinds of tests."
seas adventure and receive clues as they solve aIn a review, stated, "The XC90 is well-stocked
series of challenging and fun online puzzles. Peoplewith standard features. Among them are
can join The Hunt at any time through May 29,dual-zone climate control, a power driver seat,
and can catch up with other participants if theysteering wheel-mounted stereo controls,
correctly answer the puzzles posted online. As theone-touch up and down front windows and a roof
contest progresses, the puzzles will becomerack (cross bars are optional).” However, it
increasingly harder to solve.added, “While around-town driving poses
On June 2, the first person from each of the 22few problems, we found the engine tended to get
participating countries to finish the online hunt willout of breath while climbing grades, even though
compete against one another in one final onlinealtitude doesn't affect for turbocharged motors
challenge. To participate in the global head to head,nearly as much as naturally-aspirated ones."
players will be required to present an original pirateWhat reviewers liked most about the vehicle is
chart upon conclusion of The Hunt. Winners willthe fact that “ride motions are tidily
only be eligible if they can produce the piratecontrolled, the ZF rack-and-pinion steering reacts
chart.and reads back faithfully, and the chassis feels
The first of those 22 individuals to solve the finalstable and predictable."
puzzle will be named the winner and will receive aBut the best one liner about the XC90 was
trip to the burial location to retrieve the chestuttered by the Car and Driver. It said,
filled with $50,000 in pirate gold and a key to a“When a car company whose name means
brand new Volvo XC90.'I roll' in Latin plans a foray into the world of
"Last summer, we held a treasure hunt to find asport-utility vehicles, you can bet there's some
buried Volvo XC90 V8 to tie in with Disney'sserious review of the issues." AutoWeek further
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest andnoted, "Like gazillions of soccer moms nationwide,
were blown away by the success - more thanwe've succumbed to crossoveritis.