Volvo unveils XC60 plans

Volvo will launch a front-wheel-drive only version of its new XC60 small SUV next year although there are no plans to introduce smaller engines with lower CO2 emissions.

The XC60 goes on sale at the end of this month with a choice of 2.4-litre diesel or 3-litre petrol engines.

UK product manager Terissa Wingfield said that while there is no short-term development of a smaller engine, emissions on the front-wheel-drive 2.4-diesel next year will be a class leading 170g.km of CO2.

She said: "From launch our unique selling point is the City Safety system which goes some way to avoiding low speed collisions, particularly around town.

"This is standard on all XC60 models and it makes us stand out in the small SUV segment which is the fastest growing in the UK, up 24 per cent last year, and where we do not currently have a presence."

The market segment is currently led by the Nissan Qashqai and Honda CR-V but Wingfield said Volvo is pitching in particular against the Land Rover Freelander and BMW X3.

Prices range from £24,750 to £34,495 although Wingfield said the front-wheel-drive model will come in below these prices but a final figure has not yet been decided.

Volvo plans to sell 5,000 XC60s a year in the UK, with half of these being the 185bhp 2.4-litre D5 diesel, 47 per cent the lower output 163bhp 2.4 diesel and 3 per cent the turbocharged 3-litre T6.

The City Safety technology applies the brakes automatically at speeds of around 10mph when the system detects a possible collision with the vehicle in front.

Project manager Jorgen Ronstad said: "Our research has shown that a high percentage of accidents are at low speeds in city traffic.

"The system is designed to avoid this type of accident and we have already been told by insurance companies that premiums will be lower for the XC60 because of this."

Volvo is making no official announcement on whether City Safety is to be rolled out in other models, but engineers at the launch said that given the lower insurance premiums, it will almost certainly happen sooner rather than later.

Source: Headlineauto.co.uk

I like the look of that a bit pricey but it would last a long time going on Volvo's reputation.