What's Wrong With This Picture: Lost in Space Edition

by Edward Niedermeyer

Published: August 21st, 2009

what s wrong with this picture lost in space edition

According to Wired Magazine, the Chinese Taikonauts of the Shenzhou 7 mission have each purchased a Chinese-market Volvo S80L because “the car is safe, built locally, and the ‘brand image expresses premiumness and is not ostentatious.’” You know, as opposed to “because they were compensated for their marketing pull.” “We are very proud to have the four astronauts as Volvo owners,” enthuses Volvo Cars China CEO Alexander Klose. “Volvo will convoy these heroic astronauts on land, with our premium quality and holistic top notch safety. We look forward to their greater contributions to China’s space cause.”

Edward Niedermeyer

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4 of 23 comments

FreedMike on Aug 22, 2009
1998S90 : August 21st, 2009 at 9:52 pm That looks to be a stretch S80 (S80L?). Shame we can’t get one over here. Forget the stretch version...the S80 that Volvo needs to sell is one that won't put you to sleep. The current one is a nice drive, but it has NO personality. How about this instead: pop in the twin-turbo V-6 from the Taurus SHO (they're platform-mates, so it shouldn't be tough), restyle the interior, and do the whole "R" treatment that they used to do for the S60. Now THAT'D be an interesting car. Kind of a 740 Turbo for the 21st century.

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FreedMike on Aug 22, 2009
iceracer : August 21st, 2009 at 2:38 pm The Taikonauts had to purchase their Volvos? Couldn’t their country give them the cars? As I recall, astronauts in our country used to get hooked up with 'Vettes, courtesy of Life magazine.

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Dilbert on Aug 22, 2009

I don't know if they bought them or if local deal gave them a good deal on it, but it used to be, every astronaut in Cape Canaveral drove a Vette. And although GM didn't officially sanction it, it looked great for them, and rightfully so.

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Anonymous on Aug 22, 2009

I think China maker try to buy Big3's subsidiaries.(like Volvo) But, GM, Ford, Chrysler and its subsidiaries companies' labor union must see this news before selling Big 3 subsidiaries to China. ------------------------ In Carmaker’s Collapse, a Microcosm of South Korea’s Woes NYTimes “Chinese company BOE got the technology they wanted. All we got was layoffs,” said Hwang Pil-sang, a Hydis worker." “We trusted their promise to help us into the vast Chinese market,” Mr. Yang said. “In the end, they kept none of their promises, and they got what they wanted: our technology.” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/world/asia/24seoul.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=asia

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