Spotted Test mules, but of what???

[The Stylist]

If the description of the unidentified car is spot-on, then it most likely sounds like hot weather testing of the new Volvo S80. There are undisguised spy pictures of this car on the internet.

If I'm correct the prototype car spotted should have a rather prominent shoulder line like other current Volvo's and the side profile will look very similar to the previous generation BMW 5-Series.

[csv8]

A bigger Territory ? Current Territory can only tow 2300kg. To tow more it would need to be bigger. Horses are heavy !! Territory with a 3000kg towing capacity would be welcome. Not an Excursion or Expedition ???

[The Stylist]

Highly doubt it, the description of vehicle is of a large sedan.

[Des]

The new Volvo S80 is due out soon. They may have been running final tests on pre-production models.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by brodfloyd

I didnt think volvo would test mules in australia, so thats why im thinking its a ford model that has some more "european" design aspects. Im probably wrong, but im still intrigued, any ideas???

Volvo have tested models here. Saw 4 small Volvos go through here a few years ago. All left hand drive and the passenger side loaded with computer gear.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by 2fishingdogs

Then why would they not use the cutom trailers that ford use for testing?
The plot thickens

..because the engies at Camp Ford filled them with beer and went on hols over the shutdown...

[brodfloyd]

yeah, it probably was the new volvo S 80. I just didnt think that volvo would be doing hot weather testing in australia, i thought they would go somewhere exotic, or perhaps closer to sweden. And if in australia, i would go alice springs like that guy said, broadford???? i wouldnt do any testing in broadford, except anti-theft.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by brodfloyd

And if in australia, i would go alice springs like that guy said, broadford???? i wouldnt do any testing in broadford, except anti-theft.

But, they have to get them from to and from the Alice. Not a lot of wharfs for the ships to tie up to out there

[brodfloyd]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

But, they have to get them from to and from the Alice. Not a lot of wharfs for the ships to tie up to out there

but the hume highway doesnt go to Alice springs, the quick way would be from adelaide, and broadford isnt on the way from melbourne, nor is sydney which is where the hume heads to.

But they are swedish, so who knows

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by brodfloyd

but the hume highway doesnt go to Alice springs, the quick way would be from adelaide, and broadford isnt on the way from melbourne, nor is sydney which is where the hume heads to.

But they are swedish, so who knows

You never mentioned in your first post that they were on the Hume. Broadford covers a big area with lots of little car stripping back streets

[eb2fairmont]

This thread is useless without pics.

[Outbackjack]

The cars come to the Alice via enclosed semi tralier from Adelaide and sometimes Darwin. I have even seen them flown in by sky freighters. We see them out here two or three times a year between december and march. Quite often they are left hand drive. We saw the 05 fiestas being tested out here. I asked the guys driving if I could take a peek. No problems, but no photos. At the moment there are some cars being driven up and down the highway. They are being tagged by two territories with strange trailers that have some kind of generator being driven by the trailer wheels... I will chuck my camera in the car and take a photo next time I see them. I have no idea what the trailers are about.The car car covered in a giant black condom looks like a large 4 wheeler. They are sure getting their warm weather testing done easy with temps over 40 for the last 2 weeks......

[Mechan1k]

Originally Posted by csv8

A bigger Territory ? Current Territory can only tow 2300kg. To tow more it would need to be bigger. Horses are heavy !! Territory with a 3000kg towing capacity would be welcome. Not an Excursion or Expedition ???

I tow horses around all the time .... and 2 decent size horses in a 2-berth float (the ones hired out by Kennards) is under the 2300kg load mark .... only just ... hahahahaha