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New Gear

New Volvo S60 Coming This Summer

03.07.10

Volvos may be standard issue in the notoriously frozen environs of back East, but they are also popular here in Southern California where their heritage of safety, attention to detail and mid-level luxury is welcome to families and the fashion conscious alike. My father drives a 2006 S60, which he brought from California back East, and the car seems to have thrived in both locations. And for those Volvo-ites (including Pops) who feared the brand might be spoiled by Ford’s recent sale of the company, this week’s announcement of the new 2011 S60 should go a long way to allaying any concern for the company’s product line.

Even though now owned by China’s Geely Corporation, Ford will continue to be somewhat involved in Volvo’s fortunes, and no doubt handed over the design for next year’s new S60, which arrives here this Summer. Cars will be built in Ghent, Belgium and are presented here in a new color dubbed Vibrant Copper (or is it Electrum Gold?). The S60 is Volvo’s biggest-selling model around the world, with some one million of the cars on the road since debuting in 2000. For 2011 the new S60 gets lower and pointier with its four-door coupe look as well as several new comfort and safety features.

One of several safety features is Full Auto Brake, which uses cameras and radar to detect pedestrians or stopped cars - and stop your Volvo before smashing into them. Also offered is anti-skid stability control, dubbed DSTC - as well as corner traction control which allows the inner wheels of a cornering S60 to turn at a slower speed. Driver Alert Control (to alert you if you drift out of your lane), Blind Spot Information System (watching your blind spots), auto-turning Xenon headlights and whiplash protection round out the car’s offerings, living up to Volvo’s tradition of safety first.

Visually, Volvo continues to strive to set themselves apart through the use of striking LED lighting packages - the goal being to be able to recognize a Volvo from far down the road at night. Power comes from a T6 3.0 liter, 300hp gas engine for starters, using a 6-speed transmission. A raft of other engines (including turbo diesels) are slated for the rest of the world and possibly America as well. As a bonus, AWD (all wheel drive) is standard on the T6 model. Add to that some sweet info-tainment offerings that include a premium Audyssey Laboratories system, and the future is looking golden (or at least copper) for the Swedish car company.

Click here to watch a YouTube promotions video for the car

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Dining

Panini & more

03.05.10

Italian panini sandwiches are normally pressed thin but not at Panini Cafe in Corona del Mar. Their version is a bit heftier compared to the dainty Italian sandwiches, and every bit delicious. There are 17 kinds of grilled panini on the menu at Panini Cafe, from the popular roasted salmon with brie and red onions to the prosciutto with fresh Buffalo mozzarella and tomato. Panini sandwiches are $10 and come with your choice of salad or soup.

If you’re craving something even more substantial, you can’t go wrong with the Charbroiled Chicken Kabob. The large chunks of juicy chicken are perfectly grilled with a lovely kiss of char, as are the accompanying grilled vegetables.

Panini Cafe is located at 2333 E Coast Hwy in Corona Del Mar
949.675.8101

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