Volvo has released the first teaser image of its all-new XC60 that is expected to debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show on 7 March.
From the images we can see that the new offering will also sport the ‘Thor’s Hammer’ LED light signature. It’s reported that XC60 will sit on a shortened version of the SPA platform that underpins the XC90 SUV and S90 saloon and the design will be based very much on that of the larger XC90.
According to Autoexpress, the engine line-up will initially comprise two 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesels – a 139kW D4 and the 173kW D5. After the car’s launch it is expected that Volvo will add the faster T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid. Fitted to the XC60 it is expected to deliver similar performance and efficiency to the XC90 T8, with around 300kW of power and an punchy 640Nm of torque, with a claimed economy of more than 130mpg.
A spy shot of the XC60 during testing.
It almost goes without saying that Volvo will fit the XC60 with a thoroughly comprehensive and effective safety kit, as part of the brand’s IntelliSafe systems.
The new safety features are designed to provide the driver with automatic steering assistance or support – when required – to help avoid potential collisions. Volvo believes that these new features will make the new XC60 one of the safest cars on the road.
The SUV will have a forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control and the new oncoming lane mitigation, which allows the car to take over steering if the vehicle wonders across a lane, guiding it back into its own lane and out of the path of any oncoming vehicle detected by the car. This new system is active between 60 and 140 km/h.
“We have been working with collision avoidance systems for many years and we can see how effective they are. In Sweden alone we have seen a decline of around 45 per cent* in frontal impacts thanks to our City Safety collision warning with autobrake system. With the all-new XC60 we are determined to take the next step in reducing avoidable collisions with the addition of steering support and assistance systems,” says Malin Ekholm, Senior Director at Volvo Cars’ Safety Centre in Gothenburg.
City Safety has been updated in the all-new XC60 to now include steering support, which engages when automatic braking alone would not help avoid a potential collision. In such circumstances, the car will provide steering assistance to avoid the obstacle ahead. City Safety helps to avoid collisions with vehicles, pedestrians and large animals. Steering support is active between 50 and 100 km/h.
A new, even smaller XC40 SUV will arrive towards the end of 2017 to complete Volvo’s trio of SUVs.