Volvo has always been a pioneer of safety, with engineer Nils Bohlin famously inventing the three-point seat belt in 1959. Now, in the ultimate manifestation of its Vision 2020 strategy which aims for no one to be killed or seriously injured in one of its new cars, the Volvo 112mph speed limiter has been introduced.
The limit may seem at odds with the performance greats in its back catalogue like the T5, but the 180kmh limit remains significantly higher than all maximum national speed limits apart from some US states and the increasingly rare stretches of derestricted German autobahn. Japanese domestic-market vehicles have been fitted with a 112mph speed limiter for many years.
Keen to maintain its status as a safety innovator, Volvo explains the move by pointing out that the effect of active safety technology is greatly reduced at higher speeds. Interestingly, its electric performance sub-brand Polestar is unaffected by the move.
