Volvo's new key lets you set a maximum speed

Choose how fast your new Volvo can go with the Care Key

If you’re someone who likes to find out the top speed of vehicles, don’t bother going through Volvo’s lineup. The Swedish automaker has officially rolled out the 180 km/h speed limit on all of their vehicles.

Now, this isn’t surprising news. Volvo first made the announcement last year, but only managed to roll out the safety feature on new vehicles this year. As a result, nearly all brand new Volvo cars sold today will have an electronically limited top speed of 180 km/h whether it's an entry-level diesel or the top-end T8 model. Vehicles exempt from the new electronically limited top speed are all Volvo emergency vehicles. Some examples include police, medical, and other emergency response units.

Aside from the 180 km/h limiter, Volvo has introduced a new key feature (pun intended) to all brand new models called the “Care Key”. Interestingly, the Care Key works similarly to the “valet mode” on high-powered cars like the Dodge Challenger Hellcat. Or, it is similar to the Bugatti Veyron key but in reverse. Rather than having power reduced (or go faster in the Veyron) Volvo owners can use the Care Key to set the maximum speed limit of vehicles even lower than 180 km/h.

Volvo says the Care Key is intended to be used when owners lend out their vehicles to other drivers like family members or teenagers who just got their licenses. 

The automaker did not say what the lowest speed limit that can be set using the Care Key feature. Considering that most roads in the world do have a minimum speed limit, it might not be as slow as 30km/h. Nevertheless, this should prove to be a great tool for preventing kids and inexperienced drivers from testing the efficiency of seatbelts and airbags in a high speed crash. 

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