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The Volvo XC60 Concept takes centre stage at the Detroit Motor Show, integrating both the unmistakable, muscular XC-versatility and the sporty charisma of a coupe.
“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,” says Fredrik Arp, President and CEO at Volvo Cars.
“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,” explains Fredrik Arp.
“I would like to emphasize that with the XC60 project as with the C30, we are aiming primarily at lifestyle rather than age. 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,” concludes Fredrik Arp.
The new Volvo XC60 is planned to reach the showrooms at the beginning of 2009.
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I had no idea Volvo was this progressive. That concept is absolutely beautiful. What prompted them to change so radically since 2002 models?
The styles back then were nothing to rave about and I would have never dreamed of owning one until now. The style has changed for the better in so many ways!
If this car comes out as scheduled in 2009, I will be one of the first people to have it! and it will be my 2nd Volvo. It is the hottest car Volvo has designed!
As a long time Volvo owner and on my second XC 70. I feel the XC60 looks OK from a brief dsecription of what it is going to offer. Just make sure it has the same ALL WHEEL DRIVE CAPABILITY of the XC 70 and no short cuts to save money.
Volvo engineering and marketing should be pushing the Ford management to start including there DIESEL engine for the North American market ASAP...it drives very well in the European version and gets great milaege per Liter (I had one in my 240 years ago).
Do not let the Volvo image be affected in any way by the Ford bean-counters as you bring the XC 60 to market...try launching before 2009.
Keep up the good work and keep the Volvo cutting edge safety technology coming.
PS: none of the interior pictures show the gear selector lever, only what appears to be the manual hand brake lever? How does one select the drive function needed?
If Volvo produces a car "based" on the Taurus, I don't think I will ever buy another one. Designed off of the Volvo-engineered chassis that underpins the Taurus is fine, but I wouldn't go so far as to say based on that lump of a land yacht. Sure it's a nice car. Nice, but boring. Nothing special. I do agree that a larger Volvo would be nice, but I don't think it would fit in. I don't think I'd really want a Volvo that was 10 inches longer and an inch wider than the S80 already is. Besides, the big Audi and BMW don't actually have much more usable space than the S80 when you look at interior dimensions, so you basically just get a longer wheelbase (better ride quality and rear legroom) and a slightly larger trunk (at least in the 7 series, smaller in the A8).
Volvo is starting to creep over to the sporty side of things, which is awesome, but it will be a while before they can compete with the Germans on the basis of sport. They've got a lot the Germans can't match, and they are much nicer to drive than any American car I've ever owned or driven, but someone who wants a sport sedan is still going to buy a 5-series and not a Volvo. Hopefully the new XC60 can push a little bit because it looks like the Land Rover LR2 it's based on can fly over a rally course (at least according to the Land Rover propaganda films).
Ed,
The front doors do look a little small, but I'm sure they'll be large enough to be practical. As far as "French Doors" go though, I'm not a big fan beyond putting them on a concept as a styling exercise...they have too many problems when you apply them to a production model, and you lose a lot of body stiffness when you take away a vehicle's B-pillar. And it would probably only make it easier for rear passengers to get in and out because you've still got the front seat limiting the size of the driver's entryway. One of the reasons they put the doors on the old Lincoln Continental the way they did is because the design team members kept tripping on their way into the back seat, or at least that's what kept happening to my grandfather before they decided to try it that way.