SPY PHOTOS: New Volvo XC70 Undisguised

Here are first pictures of the brand new Volvo XC70 in full showroom trim although the car will not be released before 2008. The XC70 is the 4x4 SUV version of Sweden’s bestselling car, the V70, and now the fourth generation will be different in many ways from the current model.

The front end is featuring an off-road-style bumper in non-paintable textured plastic and a muscular looking front grille. Recognized by the little black box on the left side of the Volvo grille emblem, this specific car is equipped with cruise control radar which maintains traveling speed and distance to the car in front. The next eye-catcher is the fog lights mounted in a silver frame. Inside the same frame you can also find the sensors for the park-distance control. The silver look returns at the bottom at the bumper to emphasize a cosmetic protection bar.

A car for active people with an active lifestyle should have rails and in this case Volvo’s design team really gave the new XC70 a different type of rail system. Look closely and you can see that they are starting at the bottom of the windshield following the A-pillar all the way over the roof.

Just like the present XC70, the fenders have been made wider with some help of plastic wheel opening mouldings which also continues onto the lower outer doors panels. To liven it all up, there will be some aluminium decor also along the door sides. The painted mirrors with integrated indicators seem to be bigger than the normal V70 .

In the back, the only difference compared to the V70 is the bigger bumper in more black textured plastic with some silver decor. It also seems that there will be no sticker with the text Cross Country like on the present model. On this car, fitted with the new straight 6-cylinder engine, the exhaust pipes are hidden, but we will have to wait and see if the V8 version will have them visible.

The interior will be pretty much the same as in the S80 / V70 with some minor changes like some extra off-road inspired leather work. The smaller engines from the V70 will not find their way into the XC70 however, the engine lineup begins with the 2.5T with 210 bhp and it will be joined by the 3.2 liter 6-cylinder with 238 bhp and the V8 built by Yamaha with 315 bhp. Diesel fans will enjoy the 185 bhp engine. Haldex supplies the latest generation of their 4-wheel drive for the XC70.

In view of the higher petrol prices, consumer demand is shifting towards smaller SUVs, thus making the XC70 and the coming XC60 well positioned. While the XC60 is based on the Land Rover Freelander II and aims for the BMW X3 as its target competitor, the new XC70 will try to make life difficult for Audi’s Allroad as well.