2018 Volvo XC60 to hit Australia late next year: All-new medium SUV on the way

The XC60 badge hit local showrooms in 2009, after first appearing as a concept in 2007. Its global debut occurred at the 2008 Geneva motor show, and Australian buyers got their first up-close look during the Sydney motor show (RIP) later that year.

Its replacement will be the fourth model, after the XC90, S90 and V90, to utilize the multi-billion dollar SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform that went into development as part of the Swedish brand's purchase by Chinese firm Geely in 2010.

Developed to the same general principle of most modern platforms, the SPA design supports variable widths and wheelbases, and was designed from the outset to support hybrid and electric drivetrains.

From this we can expect to see a hybrid XC60, like its big-brother XC90 T8, and potentially a full electric version to compete with the recently announced Mercedes-EQ SUV.

Volvo CEO, Håkan Samuelsson, announced in April this year a target of one-million electrified Volvo vehicles to be sold by 2025, driven by both the 60- and 90-range cars based on the SPA platform, as well as smaller 40-range cars based on the forthcoming CPA (compact product architecture) platform.

Above: Volvo recently previewed the smaller new XC40, and we can likely expect the new XC60 to feature a similar styling treatment.

The first-generation XC60 was a runaway success for Volvo, and has sold more than 750,000 globally units since launch.

Over 1600 XC60 vehicles have been sold in Australia this year, up over 28 per cent on the same period in 2015.

The new model has been spotted testing in Europe (shown top of article), and uses styling themes carried over from the larger XC90.

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