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2018 Volvo XC60 teased ahead of Geneva


Volvo is about to reveal the next-generation XC60 mid-size luxury SUV that will further boost popularity of what has long been its best-selling nameplate in Australia and bring the Swedish brand closer to completing its range-wide model renewal.

Three teaser images revealed ahead of the XC60’s public debut at the Geneva motor show on March 7 suggest the new model will have a more sculptural, sleek shape than its boxier and bigger XC90 stablemate.

Visible in a side-on shot of the car beneath a sheer silk sheet are the Volvo hallmark ‘Thor’s Hammer’ LED daytime running light graphics and more LED details on a reimagining of the brand’s traditional wagon and SUV tail-light clusters that book-end the full height of the tailgate.

The new XC60 also seems to have what appears to be a more imposing grille than seen so far on new-generation Volvos, including the S90 and V90 large sedan and wagon.

The outgoing XC60 has been the brand’s top seller in Australia since its 2011 launch.

However, the headlight styling offsets the bold grille with a softer, more rounded shape than the angular XC90 units or the narrow, upswept look of the S90 and V90.

The teaser images do not give much sense of proportion, but the chances are high that this XC60 will be bigger than its predecessor, which is 4644mm long, 2120mm wide and 1713mm high.

Volvo has form in this regard, with the XC90 leaping in size, and the XC60 shares the flagship SUV’s SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform, which also underpins the S90 and V90.

Drivetrain details are yet to be announced, but Volvo is expected to continue with its all-four-cylinder policy and reuse the 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines currently doing service in the 90-series models.

In Australia these currently include a D5 twin-turbo diesel developing 147kW/470Nm, a T6 petrol boosted by both supercharging and turbocharging to create 235kW/400Nm and a T8 that adds plug-in hybrid technology to a version of the T6 petrol bringing outputs up another 65kW and 240Nm.

As the outgoing XC60 has been the brand’s top seller in Australia since its 2011 launch, the all-new model is of critical importance Down Under, particularly as it is outsold by premium mid-size SUV rivals including the BMW X3, Land Rover Discovery Sport and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

How successful is Volvo's mission of transforming from sensible to stylish? Tell us what you think in the comments below.