What's Been Going On?

The early half of this year, the whole world was turned upside down due to the health concerns regarding COVID-19. 

Recently, things have been looking up. States are lifting social bans and the weather is warming up. That means long drives with the windows down, sunroofs up, and hopefully car meets sometime soon.

So, what's been going on within the community and us?

Viking Thing

As this is our first Month In Review blog post, I feel compelled to explain the title to this section. As it seems like a lazy attempt, a Viking "Thing" is actually an early governing body made up of the free people and law makers. This is a section all about the people and cars that make this community special!

Volvo's Way of Giving Back

Recently, Volvo released a statement that they are hiring veterans for careers as technicians, prioritizing United States Military veterans and National Guard and Reserve members. 

This past Memorial Day inspired Volvo Cars USA President and CEO Anders Gustaffson. He is offering a transitional stipend to those taking the required 4-week training and year-long on-the-job training so long as they are eligible for GI Bill benefits. 

Those interested in the opportunity can apply here. 

Read the full press release on Volvo's website.

LiDAR May Save Lives

Recently, Volvo has teamed up with tech firm Luminar to begin offering LiDAR technology in their SPA-2 cars.

For those who don't know, LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) is technology where lasers measure the immediate landscape to create a 3-dimensional map interpretable by a computer.

These advancements bring along autonomous highway driving capabilities to future Volvos with the potential for further safety advancements via OTA updates. 

If you'd like to read more about Volvo's partnership with Luminar and their implementation of LiDAR, click here.

Have Something You'd Like To Share?

If you think you have something notable that you'd like to see in this section of next month's MIR post, message us on social media or send us an email at parts@vivaperformance.com!

Here @ ViVA Performance

We have added some special products to our catalog this past month, including some wheels believed to be NLA!

Heico Sportiv Volution V 19" Wheels in Titan Grey

We've got our hands on some 19" Titan Grey Volution V wheels, previously unavailable to order. We have limited stock of these awesome wheels and once they are gone, we are unsure if we'll be able to get more new stock. These wheels are wonderful aesthetic upgrades for P2R sedans and wagons, just like Chris Stewart's from Swedespeed!

Chris' are in Bright Silver, a color that is not currently being offered. 

Vanilla Performance Wheels, 19x8.5

Once considered the holy grail of P2 aftermarket wheels due to their modern design and ability to clear P2R calipers without the need for spacers, Vanilla Performance wheels are back, but we have limited stock. Just like the Volutions, once they are gone, they're gone. 

We will be offering these wheels in Bright Silver and Gloss Gunmetal, while supplies last.

Fifteen52 Tarmac, Turbomac, Chicane, Integrale, and Podium Wheels

Since 1996, Fifteen52 has been offering unique wheels that have been inspired by race and rally heritage. Featured in the popular Gymkhana series, Ken Block ran Fifteen52 Tarmac and Turbomac wheels on his rally-drift missiles.

Pictured is Ken and his Ford Fiesta rocking Fifteen52 Tarmacs. Photo taken by Ricardo Abengoza Hernandez.

TME Performance Downpipe for Volvo 850, S/V70 AWD

As the sole distributer of TME products in the United States, we are able to offer their latest designs. Recently we added custom 3" downpipes for P80 AWD platforms including 850 AWD and S/V70 AWD. This is currently one of the only options available for these cars, and a high quality option at that! 

As for our opinion on exhausts, high quality kits are always the way to go in order to avoid unnecessary drone and rust!

ViVA Performance Big Brake Kit for 2016+ Volvo XC90

As the heaviest model in Volvo's current lineup, weighing in at nearly 4,400 pounds, the 2016+ XC90 also takes the longest to stop. By utilizing 6 piston Stoptech calipers, the XC90 is able to brake harder and faster, even with a full car load of kids coming from soccer practice. 

Please hang in there with us, we are experiencing various delays with our domestic and overseas suppliers due to staff shortages and supply-chain backups. 

Currently, transportation routes are reduced with USPS so shipping times have increased to Europe and Asia as deliveries become bottlenecked. To find out more about your country's status, please visit the International Service Alerts page.

Whatever the future may hold for us, we will still be here for you fulfilling orders and serving the Volvo community the same way we have for the past 20 years. 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the contents of this post, or just need help picking out parts for your next build, please send us an email at parts@vivaperformance.com.