Volvo XC60 Concept: Buy It 2009, See It Now

Motoring Channel Staff - 19/Dec/2006

Trollhättan, Sweden — We reported on the new Volvo XC60 concept car in mid December 2006, which was leaked by a German website well ahead of schedule. The impressively-style new car is a compact luxury SUV that will compete with vehicles such as the BMW X3 and Land Rover Freelander.

Though the car was supposed to be unveiled at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show in early January, Volvo has decided that with all the media coverage the leaked photos garnered, it would simply officially announce the vehicle early.

And so here we have the new Volvo CX60 concept car. As well as the new design, the compact luxury SUV will benefit from a new automatic braking system, but more on that feature in a bit.

As was mentioned in the original news piece, Volvo has done a good job in the last ten years to reverse the company's "pipe-and-slippers" image. It has done this by creating vehicles that still appeal to the traditional safety conscious buyers, while adding a new level of style and technology to its vehicles.

The design of the XC60, the latest model to show off Volvo's new age style, is a mid-sized luxury SUV that will slot in beneath the XC90. It is quite radical for a Volvo. But bear in mind that this is the 'concept' version of the new car, and the production model will be toned down somewhat.

Here's how Volvo's President and CEO sees the new model: "One might say that this could be the C30-owner's next car. Equally sporty and exciting, but far more capable. The concept car offers a good indication of how the 'real' XC60 will look."

Competition in the new car marketplace for Volvo's compact SUV will include the BMW X3, the Land Rover Freelander and other upcoming compact 4x4 models such as the Audi Q5 and Volkswagen Tiguan.

As Volvo explains, there are only a handful of models in this segment, but within the next few years buyers will have at least ten to choose between. Between 2007 and 2009, Volvo predicts that the compact luxury SUV segment's sales volume will expand by 75 percent to 443,000 cars, which is significant. 

"There is considerable potential here and the concept car shows that we both can and actually dare to be even sportier and more dynamic while retaining our firm lead when it comes to safety. The technological solutions for avoiding low-speed collisions represent a major breakthrough. We call this system City Safety," added Volvo boss, Fredrik Arp.

According to Volvo, this system initiates if the vehicle in front suddenly brakes. The City Safety senses that a collision is likely to happen it will pre charge the brakes to help the driver to avoid an accident. However, when the system senses that a collision is imminent, the car will brake automatically.

City Safety is active at up to 30 km/h and if the relative speed difference between the two vehicles is below 15 km/h, the system can help the driver avoid the collision entirely. Between 15 and 30 km/h, the focus is instead on reducing speed as much as possible before the impact.

The new model will be based on the same platform as the new Land Rover Freelander, and may also share a number of components with the British 4x4, including gearboxes and possibly suspension.

As well as a Euro-friendly diesel engine, the new XC60 will probably be offered with a pair of Volvo's favourite petrol engines, both inline 5-cylinder motors with plenty of character. The first is a 125kW 2.4-litre version, and the other is the powerful 2.5-litre turbocharged motor, which is offered in the Volvo S40 and also the Ford Focus XR5 Turbo.

However, seeing as first deliveries for the new model won't begin until 2009, there's a good chance that the XC60 could be the vehicle of choice for Volvo to debut it's new twin-clutch automatic gearbox and possibly a number of new engines.

The images displayed here are of the concept version, but the final production version, which is expected to begin manufacture later in 2007, won't be too different. The rear end treatment, which features a dynamic brake light design, is similar to the new Volvo C30 luxury hatchback, while at the front the car has a streamline windscreen and modern looking headlights.

Volvo says the XC60 concept is a daring creation that is a fusion of the very best elements from two distinctive, yet dynamic car types. Above the waistline, the sleek lines trace the profile and sporty charisma of an elegant coupe, while underneath this are pumped out wheel arches and character lines running between the front and rear wheels.

Inside the XC60 concept car, Volvo has used the 'floating' centre console technique seen in some of its other vehicles, but with touch screen accessibility. The general layout of the interior is fairly normal, but the upholstery is very concept car with lots of creamy white leather and touches of grey and black to reduce retinal burn for the Detroit show goers.

Steve Mattin, who is the design director at Volvo Cars, hinted that the design of the concept XC60 will be very similar to the production version: "The concept car not only provides a good indication of what the XC60 will look like, it also offers a hint of the lines of future Volvo models. With a more sculptured look, our cars will be more extrovert in their visual appeal. If you say that you recognise a Volvo from 50 metres today, I want to get to the point where people will instantly spot it from twice the distance in the future."

The target market for the compact Swedish luxury SUV will be consumers who always regard the microchip as a natural complement to their breakfast cereal, postulates Volvo. Consumers who have grown up in an era during which electronic products have undergone unimaginable development will be the early adopters of this vehicle believes Volvo, largely because of its various technological advancements. 

Volvo's XC60 will be an important model for Volvo, and could become one of its best-selling models as we shift towards the end of the decade, and especially if Volvo and parent company Ford can ensure the price is competitive and standard features are bountiful. Pricing will be slightly higher than the second generation Land Rover Freelander, so expect prices above $50,000 when the car launches in Australia.

Volvo has confirmed that it will launch the new XC60 model in 2009. "I would like to emphasise that with the XC60 project as with the C30, we are aiming primarily at lifestyle rather than age," added Fredrik Arp. "We are broadening our model range to primarily attract more customers with an active, urban lifestyle. The XC60 will be equally important as the C30 in our planned sales volume expansion," concluded Fredrik Arp, Volvo CEO.

The car's local launch depends on its popularity in Europe and US, which will get first dibs, and so may not appear until 2010.

Related articles:
- Volvo C30
- Volvo C70
- Volvo S60R
- Volvo S80