Volvo V60 Cross Country unveiled ahead of LA debut

Compared with the regular V60 wagon, the Cross Country variant boasts an extra of 65mm of ground clearance. Visually the new V60 Cross Country is distinguished from its siblings by its front and rear skid plates, wheel arch extensions and revised sills.

Depending on the trim level, the Volvo V60 Cross Country will be available with 18- and 19-inch alloy wheels, around which will be higher profile tyres.

Coupled with all-wheel drive, torque vectoring and corner traction control, the new Cross Country will have at least a modicum of off-road capability.

The first markets to receive the new V60 Cross Country will be the USA and Canada, where it will initially only be available in all-wheel drive with a 186kW/361Nm 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder petrol motor.

For the rest of the world, the V60 Cross Country will be available in both front- and all-wheel drive. FWD models can be ordered with either the new 180kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol or the company's 133kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.

AWD models, according to Volvo, will be equipped with a turbocharged five-cylinder diesel.

The EU and rest-of-the-world versions of the V60 Cross Country will be launched in early 2015.

We're waiting to hear back from Volvo Australia as to when the V60 Cross Country will be available locally.