Decades back, I was driving a 1969 Firebird convertible, while my wife had a Volvo 240 DL station wagon. Obviously, I was not a fan of station wagons. But one day I happened to be driving my wife’s car — traffic had come to a stop in the 91 freeway in Orange County — a young man in a 1963 Chevy Impala rear ended me at about 40 to 50 miles per hour.
The big cushioned seat of the Volvo absorbed the impact as I gently rolled backward, leaving me almost in prone position on my back. The engine and drivetrain dropped out the car to ground, I imagine as a safety measure to protect the occupants. The entire car crumpled in the middle absorbing the impact of the collision.
I climbed out the car unharmed, in a state of awe. The folks at Volvo make a fine car, a safe car. In regard to safety, they have had their mind right for a long time.
Should any ICE car company emerge healthy in the age of electric vehicles, my hope is that Volvo succeeds.