| New Model Preview | 2008 Geneva Motor Show | Volvo XC60 |
Urban driving just got a whole lot easier with Volvo's announcement of its new City Safety system. The crash avoidance technology debuts on its new XC60 at the
Geneva motorshow. It monitors the car in front in slow moving traffic and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't do so in time. With the new system joining Volvo's already massive arsenal of safety equipment the Swedish firm is calling the new XC60 its safest-ever car.
Hoping to replicate the phenomenal success of
the XC90, the XC60 is Volvo's second proper crossover, XC, model. Unlike its XC90 relative there's only seating for five, Volvo suggesting that the XC60 will appeal to buyers with an 'active urban lifestyle' - whatever that is.
There's no denying it's a good-looking crossover, certain to appeal to the sort of people who are lapping up Nissan's Qashqai but want a more prestigious badge on the grille. The Volvo XC60 will reach UK showrooms this October with a choice of three engines. Two five-cylinder turbodiesels with 163bhp and 185bhp will make up the majority of sales, a flagship T6 petrol promising more potent performance with 285bhp on offer.
All the launch models will be four-wheel drive; however, Volvo has also announced that 2009 will see a 163bhp version on the price lists with front-wheel drive and CO
2 emissions of around 170g/km.
Kyle Fortune - 19 Feb 2008