Sydney show: Volvo XC60 makes Asia-Pacific debut

VOLVO made its presence felt at the Australian International Motor Show this morning with the Asia-Pacific debut of its crucial new XC60 medium-sized SUV and two environmental-flavoured contenders based on its C30 prestige small car.

While the latter stood as a defiant illustration that there is another Swedish brand with a strong position on alternative powertrains – that is, clean diesel and bio-ethanol petrol engines, both under consideration for release here – the XC60 is considered a vital cog in boosting the Ford-owned marque’s fortunes in Australia and other SUV-consuming markets.

The XC60 goes on sale here next March and, while local pricing and specifications are still to be released, Volvo Car Australia (VCA) has confirmed that it will be available with two engines: the familiar 210kW/400Nm T6 petrol unit and a 136kW/400Nm 2.4 turbo-diesel D5.

As previously reported, the XC60 will also be fitted standard with the newly developed ‘City Safety’ low-speed automatic braking system, which is designed to prevent – or at least minimise – collisions at speeds below 30km/h.

Volvo announced at the Paris motor show last week that the XC60 would be fitted with a diesel-hybrid powertrain (with an electric rear axle and stop-start technology) by 2011. A new-generation micro-hybrid is due to reach production for Volvo that same year, while plug-in technology is due in 2012.

Before then, various models will be built under the DRIVe sub-brand launched at Paris and which VCA has wasted no time in showing in Australia, with the C30 version unveiled this morning in the Darling Harbour exhibition halls.

To enter production in Europe in the coming months, and under consideration for Australia, the C30 DRIVe uses a state-of-the-art 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine that can achieve 4.4L/100km and has a CO2 figure of just 115g/km.

Alongside the C30 DRIVe was the C30 1.8F, which uses an E85-compatible 92kW/165Nm 1.8-litre four-cylinder “Flexifuel” petrol engine.

Taking a leaf out of Saab’s green manual, Volvo management also confirmed at the show this morning that the model variant was under investigation for sale in Australia, despite the lack of pumps offering E85 fuel around the nation.

Read more:

First look: Volvo's production XC60 for Geneva

Volvo XC60 'safe' in city