Volvo released media images of the XC60 concept well in advance of the car's debut at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show and despite the show car's obvious proximity to a showroom model, the XC60 will not go on sale until early 2009.

However, the XC60 concept is claimed to hold pointers to several new design elements of future Volvos, under the guidance of Volvo's relatively new design director, Steve Mattin. Of significance to all new Volvos are a much larger Volvo badge on the front grille and more pronounced lettering on the rear hatch. Mattin says "if you can recognise a Volvo from 50m today, I want to get to the point where you will instantly spot a Volvo from twice that distance in the future".

The XC60 itself can be viewed as a combination of Volvo XC90 SUV and the new C30. It is likely to be aimed at potential buyers of the Land Rover Freelander 2, BMW X3 and the new VW Tiguan, though it will be late to the party.

Inside the show car, Volvo reveals its next development of the floating console design, where the surface conceals a touch screen interface that is backlit and can be compared to the industrial design-cool of the iPod, indicating that this is yet another new Volvo tasked with reducing the average age of the company's buyer. We expect it to be one of the stars of the Detroit Show.

Shane O' Donoghue - 20 Dec 2006