One of our spies caught this un—disguised version of the firm’s baby SUV cruising around San Francisco in the US, but had to snap it through the windscreen of his own car.
The concept made its debut at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this year. And this production prototype was spied wearing European licence plates and taking part in a video shoot. Our snapper told us: “It looks like a baby XC90 and has a family resemblance to the S80. The rear hatch had an XC60 badge on the lower left side, and the Volvo emblem in the usual place. The front differed from the concept’s, too. ”
Due to go on sale in early 2009, the XC60 joins the quirky C30 in the company’s push to appeal to a younger market. Volvos have traditionally valued function over form, but the attractive XC60 is definitely focusing on fun. Bosses believe that buyers who want a Volvo-badged off-roader will make their choice from the upmarket XC90 and XC70. The XC60 will concentrate on providing an outstanding driving experience on tarmac.
The concept used a bioethanol 3.2-litre six-cylinder powerplant, which hints that the firm is planning a ‘flexifuel’ variant – to further increase the range of Volvos that can run on standard un-leaded petrol and E85 biofuel.
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