| Volvo Car Corporation calls all pirates, scallywags | | | | 100,000 participants from around the world joined |
| and treasure fanatics to join The Hunt!, a | | | | in," said Linda Gangeri, national advertising manager |
| competition is in connection with the movie Pirates | | | | for Volvo Cars of North America. "This year, with |
| of the Caribbean: At World's End which opens in | | | | more countries, more booty and all the early |
| theatres on May 25. The company earlier | | | | interest, we're really excited to set sail.' So, come |
| announced the online search for a sunken | | | | join The Hunt!" |
| treasure chest containing $50,000 in gold pieces | | | | The Volvo brand has already established a |
| and the keys to a new Volvo XC90 luxury SUV | | | | reputation for comfort, safety and longevity. And |
| will begin May 4 and the company is challenging | | | | such qualities are imbibed in the XC90, a mid-size |
| Canadians and registrants from 21 other countries | | | | luxury 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's | | | | Volvos. For this model year, the XC90 was |
| partnership with Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean | | | | updated to cover refined parts accessories like |
| movie franchise and it's the first time the | | | | the Volvo fog light, subtly-restyled front and rear, |
| competition has been open to Canadians. Last | | | | and a more comfy interior. |
| year's program was limited to residents of the | | | | According to Russ Rader, spokesman for the |
| United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Spain and | | | | Insurance 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 Kingdom | | | | between 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 18 | | | | Volvo’s spokesman, denied that the |
| years of age and older must visit a Volvo retailer | | | | company'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. Once | | | | just a philosophy on safety that is different from |
| registered, participants set sail on a virtual high | | | | building cars to pass these kinds of tests." |
| seas adventure and receive clues as they solve a | | | | In a review, stated, "The XC90 is well-stocked |
| series of challenging and fun online puzzles. People | | | | with 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 they | | | | steering wheel-mounted stereo controls, |
| correctly answer the puzzles posted online. As the | | | | one-touch up and down front windows and a roof |
| contest progresses, the puzzles will become | | | | rack (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 22 | | | | few problems, we found the engine tended to get |
| participating countries to finish the online hunt will | | | | out of breath while climbing grades, even though |
| compete against one another in one final online | | | | altitude 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 pirate | | | | What reviewers liked most about the vehicle is |
| chart upon conclusion of The Hunt. Winners will | | | | the fact that “ride motions are tidily |
| only be eligible if they can produce the pirate | | | | controlled, 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 final | | | | stable and predictable." |
| puzzle will be named the winner and will receive a | | | | But the best one liner about the XC90 was |
| trip to the burial location to retrieve the chest | | | | uttered 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 a | | | | sport-utility vehicles, you can bet there's some |
| buried Volvo XC90 V8 to tie in with Disney's | | | | serious review of the issues." AutoWeek further |
| Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and | | | | noted, "Like gazillions of soccer moms nationwide, |
| were blown away by the success - more than | | | | we've succumbed to crossoveritis. |