What's this then?

It's a Volvo S60, only someone seems to have left the packing spacers in the springs. I'll get those out for you...

Erm, no, sorry, I think you'll find it's the new Cross Country.

Ah. Yes. Of course it is. I was just, er, testing you. Yes, this is indeed the S60 Cross Country and that capital S makes this the first tall, 4x4 saloon ever that we can think of.

Volvo is even taking credit for kicking off the 'crossover' boom in the first place, with the original V70 XC and reckons with the release of the S60 Cross Country it's moving crossovers to a whole new level and a whole new segment.

"We want to further explore the market with our Cross Country brand. We did this back in 1997 with the V70 Cross Country and it led to the birth of a whole new segment. We have included all the capability-driven benefits of the Cross Country brand in this new model, while offering a completely unique expression of adventure and all-road readiness in a distinctly sporty and stylish package," says Lex Kerssemakers, Senior Vice President Product Strategy and Vehicle Line Management at Volvo Cars.

There is of course already a V60 Cross Country estate and the S60 version is, hardly surprisingly, very closely related. It sits 2.5 inches higher on its springs than a standard S60 and comes with the option of four-wheel drive. Volvo claims that it's the only off-road capable saloon around. There will be a front-drive variant too, using the new four-cylinder 190hp D4 diesel engine, while the four-wheel drive version perseveres with the old five-cylinder 2.5-litre D5 unit.

"The S60 Cross Country is the sole contender in the crossover saloon segment. We have identified a clear niche in the market for a more capable saloon with rugged styling cues and a higher stance. The S60 Cross Country will appeal to people that are searching for an exciting and capable saloon, whilst enjoying the clear benefits that a crossover offers," says Alain Visser, Senior Vice President Sales, Marketing and Customer Service.

When can I have one?

Both V60 and S60 Cross Countries should be available by the summer.