Volvo S60

[ctrcbob]

I could not believe my eyes. Saw a TV ad for the 2012 Volvo S60. Yes, I said 2012, not 2011. Here it is only January 2011 and they already are selling the 2012? Went to their website just to make sure, and yes, they are 2012's. Don't know about the S40 or S80.

Perhaps in January 2012, they will start selling the 2015 Volvo's.

 

[mikec]

Years ago this model year nonsense was getting out of control. Manufacturers were trying to one-up each other... and also selling a "2015" car in "2011" made the apparent age (and thus resale value) stay higher since your "2015" car seemed "new" in 2014. Eventually laws were enacted that basically said you couldn't be more than 1.0 years ahead. So on Jan 1st, 2011 it is legal to start selling 2012 models.

Besides the marketing nonsense, it also affected regulations & smog. Look at the metal tag on the door frame of your car - it has the manufactured date. Usually there is text similar to "meets all requirements as of date of manufacture" such as emissions and safety requirements. Well, if you sell a 2015 car in 2011... it meets 2011 requirements but may not meet the 2015 requirements - who knows what those might be? Yet in 2016, 2017, whatever, when you try to sell your used "2015" car the buyers would reasonably expect it to meet "2015" requirements.

mike c.

 

[ctrcbob]

Makes me think back to yesteryear, around 1956 or 1955, when Ford had a jingle that went like this.

Oh the kissing cousin of the Thunderbird,
Arrives September 23rd.

 

[ctrcbob]

In addition, back in yesteryear, when cars were delivered to dealers, they were covered, so people could not see then until "Introduction Day". Back then, I was a kid working (underage) at a used car dealer. I used to sweep the floors, clean the restrooms, etc. In late 1954, my boss heard that the new 1955 Chevrolet was at a local dealership, with a V8, so he took me with him when he talked with the salesmanager of the Chevy dealership. The manager then took us to a warehouse, where the new 55 Chevys were being stored. Wow, we thought it was great. My boss then spoke with one of the Chevy mechanics, who told him that he took a 55 V8 out for a ride, "just to try it out" and it was so fast (compared to the Stovebolt 6 1954) that it almost got away from him.

Yes, dealers had to hide the new cars until introduction day. Not like today.