Volvo XC60 to feature at Sydney Motor Show
August 11, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Volvo’s latest SUV, the mid-sized luxury XC60 has been announced as one of the features at this year’s 2008 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney starting on October 9.
Part of the excitement is to do with the car’s City Safety collision avoidance system, which the Swedish company has promised to demonstrate live in Hall 1 of the motor show throughout the 11-day event.
The system is expected to eliminate low speed front-end collisions. If the XC60 is is being driven at speeds of equal or less to 30km/h and the speed differential between the car infront is no more than 15km/h, then accidents will be avoided thanks to the car’s ability to automatically brake.
The system uses a set of lasers to monitor cars up to six metres in front and brake in case of the XC60 is approaching another vehicle too quickly. Volvo says that accidents might still happen (depending on distance to the car in front and weather conditions) although the severity of the accident will be reduced.
“Surveys indicate that three-quarters of all reported front-end collisions occur at speeds below 30km/h, and in 50 per cent of those cases the driver doesn’t brake at all, front-end collisions often occur at roundabouts, intersections and car parks. They can result in vehicle occupant injury, as well as seemingly minor but expensive-to-repair front-end damage.” Volvo managing director Alan Desselss said
The introduction of the system will mean Volvo is once again the leader in modern safety technology, becoming the first manufacturer in the world to offer this type of safety feature as standard across the globe.
The company anticipates that the benefits are more than just accidence avoidance, the insurance industry is expected to offer reduced premiums for owners of cars equipped with the system.
The planned live demonstration at the Sydney motorshow involves the XC60 driving towards an inflated car-sized obstacle, simulating a real-life situation.
“Volvo’s City Safety demonstration will add an additional dynamic element to the event and is part of plans to make the show much more than simply a display of new cars,” said Australian International Motor Show event manager, Robby Clark.
The Australian International Motor Show will be held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour from 9 to 19 October. More information on the show will be available closer to the date.
CarAdvice will also be attending so expect full and live coverage from the show.
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yeah, yeah, yeah…but are we gonna get the 220KW T6 engine????
Pious, every indication from Volvo Aust. is that we will be getting the T6 petrol and D5 diesel engines.
sweeeet. I looked at the XC90 sport for my missus earlier this year, but when I said that I would probably wait for the XC60 T6, the salesman said we wouldnt be getting the T6. What, salesman fibbing to try to get a sale, you say? perish the thought! the XC60 looks to be a good’un, and the T6 would have to launch it to 100 in 7 seconds, I’d think. Just what the missus needs (and I can pinch it on the weekends, just quietly)
I’m thinking of getting one for the missus as well….does anyone know the launch date? The XC90 is way too big.
Love GTR – Can’t the missus decide and buy her own car, does she really need you to do it.
lol at no name, good call.
Back on topic, this is actually a volvo i would buy! And thats the first time i have said that, ever! I really like the styling of this car and after a quick root around on the net it looks like the interior is top notch too.
I really would like just a big comfy cruise mobile for my daily driving duties, manuals and good handling are great for those times you wanna have a bit of a squirt, but when your just driving to work you just want comfy, easy to drive luxury. This to me looks like it!
still probably will never buy one though because like most european cars it will be overpriced.
I’m also looking foward to details on pricing etc. It certainly looks the part and its going to be interesting to compare price, features and technical details with Audi’s new Q5.
If LoveGTR is like me, he has to “encourage” the missus into a new car, to get to drive something different. Currently my wife’s s40T5 is living on borrowed time. XC60 is due out in Feb 09, I think. I’d guess around the $60K mark, similar to the XC70 which is a very good car (but too much of a wagon for the missus). I spoke to a fewllow who drove the Q5 in Spain – he reckons brilliant.
For a couple of reasons, I just can’t make myself like the XC60 even though I am in a new XC70 myself.
The rear quarter is just too bulky and the windows seem too small. I imagine rear corner visibilty won’t be good.
Inside, they have used all the XC70/S80 bits but laid them out differently (worse IMHO). It will look awful if you don’t get Navigation (leaving you will a empty cubby hole) and the radio/climate display on top of the dash looks a bit silly.
The new safety features will be brillant (and I guess they will filter through to the other models soon) but if I wanted something smaller than the XC70, I would be getting a Q5…
“Richo Says:
still probably will never buy one though because like most european cars it will be overpriced. ”
Compared to what ? – a Craptiva ? If you value your family, what would you rather they be driving around in ?
You get what you pay for…
This is far better looking than the Volvo XC90 However; I’d probably go for the new AWD Volvo V70 T-6 wagon which I know Bavarian Missile is particularly interested in
Iamthestig – what about a Mazda CX9 that starts at 50k and is a similar size to a volvo XC90 that starts at 70k? What do you have to say about that smarty pants?
can throw the toyota kluger into that aswell, there is no way at all that the XC90 is over 20k better then a CX9 or a kluger. Euro cars are overpriced in australia, thats just a fact, most euro buyers actually like it because it makes them feel more important because the “riff raff” can’t afford to buy one.
Get a Volvo or many Euros and you get the ability to have customisation of options, diesels and even different interior colours. More importantly, is a Kluger or CX9 as safe as a XC90 for all the occupants ? Built in booster seats ? Ah, I am wasting my time here…
Oh well, I guess you rather have a TCL TV instead of a Sony too…
Stiggy mate it’s quite clear your just a brand snob. Ever driven a mazda CX9? It’s brilliant and japanese, just like a sony tv, you fool.
also stiggy, have you ever considered that everyone might not be as well off as you are and cannot afford to spend 70k on a volvo 4WD?
My point was the euro cars are overpriced. Compare the fact that a BMW 3 series sells at a comparable price to a ford mondeo in europe, but in australia it is SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive then a mondeo. That means its overpriced in the australian market now doesn’t it? Now wasn’t that my point? I even said i really liked the new XC60, but i just commented that it would be overpriced like most euro cars are.
i wonder stig, do you drive down the road looking at peasents driving lesser cars then you and deem that they are not worthy to be sharing your road?
all cars are overpriced in Oz, even Oz cars, but euro cars much more so. In the US, there was a sub $10K difference between a volvo s60R (at about $55KUS, $100KAUD) and a BMW M3. In Oz, that difference was $70K. The jag xf in US is under $60K, with less than $10K difference between V8 and supercharged. In Oz, V8 is $140K, supercharged $170K. That said, there is something really sweet about the euros, even volvo (and I have had 5 of them)that is hard to kick, once you start, and makes them worth a bit extra once you are a convert. Then again, I’d go japanese again in a flash for the GTR, if I didnt have kids.
getting back to the cx9 or the kluger they are good cars but to get out of either after a 6 hour drive says it all!!!!
the seats give you no support unlike the Volvo’s
Also Volvo go over and above the 5 star ncap and do roll over and rear crash testing(but they dont have to).
Andrew
Richo,
I am not a brand snob – if I was, I would be driving another BMW (I have had a few in past years) not a Volvo. You really can’t judge me if you don’t know me. I have driven the CX-7 and 9 but they both have a few faults that annoyed/worried me enough not to consider either.
And although the Mondeo is a very good car, it just just doesn’t handle like a BMW. As I said before, you generally do get what you pay for…
Hey Pious , I may be cheeky but call me oportunistic, I am a Volvo Dealer im keen to help if you are serious about an XC60.
I am a volvo owner of XC90. Love it for a good family car on by disel engine. Good enough to run around with the family. I hope the XC60 can deliver more punch for the diesel over the XC90. :)
May look into it to replace my CRV. Safety is No.1 for the family. No question ask!
hi,
sydney auto show is excellent.Volvo is a leader in technology.XC60 is looking good.
thanks.
Volvo has XC70, Mazda has CX7.
Volvo has XC90, Mazda has CX9.
Volvo has XC60, Mazda has ***.
Both have FORD ownership.
You are being played!
If you walk into a new car yard and the first words out of your mouth are,”what’s your best price?”, you are doomed to drive crap like TOYOTA.
I currently drive a Mazda CX-7 great looking car, great on a twisty bit of road. Only problem is that there has been a few problems with the car, knocking noise in the engine, intermittantly rattling on the RHS when driving off. Tyres feathering on all 4 tyres (20k needs new tyres all around all pressure & alinement within factory spec) The only thing Mazda Aust will say is can’t talk to you about it as they will only talk to the dealer. Also uses more fuel than the Holden 6lt V8 motor. 17.5 ltrs per 100km. Freeway on a trip 13.6ltrs per 100 km on cruise control. I challenged Mazda get anyway near what they claim, yet to hear from them. Well i have driven the CX-7 & 9. Handling is much better in the XC60. With the poor customer responce from Mazda, they missed out on a sale on a CX-9 as i just bought a XC60. Got rid of the CX-7
^^^^^^^
Geez i am happy i never purchased a CX7! :-)
A X1 BMW would have been a better buy for the same coin as a XC60
Is Volvo owned bt Geeley the Chinese or not?
Cheers
F-0