Volvo’s safest car, XC60, to be unveiled at Geneva
20 Feb 2008
The new Volvo XC60 will have its premiere showing at the international car show in Geneva on 4 March 2008. The cars will reach the European dealers in autumn 2008.
"This car is charged with more emotive form and more energy than any other Volvo,'' says Volvo cars design director, Steve Mattin. ''We're elevating our design DNA to an entirely new level by literally turning up the visual volume. If you say that you'd recognise a Volvo from a hundred metres away today, I dare say the XC60 radiates a clear Volvo presence from at least twice that distance." (See: exclusive Volvo XC60 video)
The company claims the XC60 model is the safest Volvo ever built. It will have ''city safety'', a system that can help the driver prevent or reduce the effects of the type of low-speed impacts that are common in city traffic and traffic tailbacks. The car brakes by itself if it is about to drive into a vehicle in front.
" The car is packed with our accumulated safety know-how and technology, both when it comes to preventing accidents and protecting all the occupants in a collision," says Fredrik Arp, CEO, Volvo.
The target audience for this model will be the group that demands high on design, high-tech content and brand integrity. "One might say that this could be the C30 owner's next car. It's as sporty and exciting, but way more capable. With the XC60, we're widening our model range to attract even more customers with an active urban lifestyle," explains Fredrik.
The model will be launched with three different engine options - the turbocharged T6 which produces 285 hp, and two variants of the D5 turbodiesel, producing 185 and 163 horsepower respectively. All Wheel Drive (AWD) is fitted as standard.
The model will be built in Ghent, Belgium and the sales are expected to start in Europe during the second half of 2008 while, North America will see the cars rolling out only in 2009.
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