XC60 Signals A More "Pumped-Up" Volvo

by Glady Reign

Ford's Swedish luxury brand earlier unleashed a new sport utility vehicle that signaled the beginning of a more pumped-up aura of Volvo cars.

Steve Mattin, Volvo Cars design director said the car embodies "the DNA of future Volvos". He added, "We're about to elevate Volvo's DNA to new levels by pumping up the volume. It takes the emotion of the C30 a step further." The Volvo XC60, revealed by Volvo at the recently-held North American International Auto Show in Detroit, is said to evoke brand new styling and design of the forthcoming lineup of the automaker.

The SUV features a glass roof, a mechanical tailgate, 20-inch rims, a new shifting mechanism and a newly styled grille. The larger Volvo logo contributed to the bolder look of the vehicle. It is also given a distinct rear end to emphasize the tailgate as well as the Volvo logo.

"If you can recognize a Volvo from 50 meters today, I want to get to the point where people will be able to spot one from twice the distance in the future," Mattin added. "We need to be recognizable as Volvo. We're still about Scandinavian simplicity; we can't be playful or do styling for the sake of styling. Volvos last a long time, so our design must have legs. But we can't be too simple or we'd edge toward blandness. And we can't just change; we must be fresh. I want to broaden our design and have more variation between car lines."

Volvo Car president Fredrik Arp added that the Volvo XC60 would likely be "the C30 owner's next car". The production version of the SUV would be very identical to the concept. Mattin said it was designed to be like "a giant iPod".

The vehicle is carefully engineered so as not to compromise the traditional Volvo safety aspects. Volvo enthusiasts could still expect Volvo auto care that features a low-speed adaptive braking system called City Safety. The safety feature prevents the Volvo XC60 from running into the car in front at low speeds. The SUV is also given Volvo's 3.-litre 6-cylinder flex-fuel engine, which allows ethanol to be used instead of petrol. The new engine cuts emissions by up to 80 per cent.

"Our V8 package feels immensely solid. When it comes to power and performance, we're in the same class as the very best in the segment. What's more, we're sure that a large proportion of these customers will appreciate the fact that the power and driveability can be combined with high safety and good environmental properties. It's important that we can launch a V8 without compromising on our core values," said Hans-Olov Olsson, Volvo Cars' President and CEO.

The Volvo XC60 is the automaker's entry to the fastest-growing sector of the automotive market. Volvo expects that the new SUV will boost global sales by 75 per cent to 443,000 cars in the next couple of years. The automaker expects that the Volvo XC60 will also attract more buyers especially the young and active urbanites. Arp added that the Volvo XC60 will be as important as the Volvo C30 in expanding the brand's sales. He also added that the concept is a good indicator of what the production model will look like.

Volvo is delivering the Volvo XC60 with high hopes same as its 240 model. The latter uses exceptional Volvo 240 parts to enhance its capabilities and functionality. The Volvo 240 was the best-selling car of the automaker. From 1975 to 1982, the Volvo 240 is the only vehicle from Volvo that is imported to the United States. That's the measure of the Volvo 240's global popularity.

About the Author

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the Motor City and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.