Volvo XC40 Cross Country SUV confirmed

The Cross Country (hence, XC) version adds all-wheel drive, increased ride height, a hard-edged body kit, integrated skid plate and roof rails. It goes on display at the Paris motor show this month but though Volvo Australia says it's on the wish list, it's too early to talk price, specifications and delivery times. Volvo Car senior vice president of product, Lex Kerssemakers, says the Cross Country was designed "for those who want a sense of adventure in their everyday life''.

"The new V40 Cross Country is built on the heritage that started with the V70 Cross Country back in 1997,'' he says. Australia has the pick of the drivetrain options though likely to stay away from the less powerful versions. In Europe - where it starts production next month with deliveries in January - the V40 Cross Country will be offered in front-wheel and all-wheel drive.

The all-wheel drive (AWD) will be standard equipment on the T5-powered cars. There will be three turbo-diesel engines - a 85kW/285Nm 1.6-litre and two 2-litres (132kW/400Nm and 110kW/350Nm) - and two turbocharged petrol engines - a 1.6-litre four and a 2.5-litre five-cylinder. The 2.5-litre T5 petrol engine has 190kW/400Nm and claims 8.2 L/100km. The 1.6-litre direct-injection T4 petrol has 135kW/270Nm and Volvo claims it has a fuel average of 5.5 L/100km. Three transmissions will be available - a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic (T5) and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic (T4).

AWD is standard on the T5 and to expand it's go-anywhere appeal, adds hill-descent control and a hill holder system. It can be optioned with a TFT digital instrument display that includes a three-mode driving program - Elegance, Performance or Eco - depending on driver mood and road conditions. Volvo claims the Cross Country will carry over all the features of the V40 hatchback. This includes stop-start as standard across the range, together with Bluetooth hands-free communication and audio streaming.

There is also a mobile application the allows the driver to stay in touch with the parked car via an iPhone or Android smart phone. An extension of Volvo On Call, the app is free to download and is designed to offer the owner an intuitive, easy-to-use relationship with the car from a distance. For example, the owner can check fuel levels before starting the journey or get information on wiper fluid or oil levels, or check whether the car has been locked.

Safety items as standard are City Safety auto-braking technology and the V40's world-first pedestrian airbag. The car is claimed to be the only one in its class to be available with Pedestrian Detection technology.

Volvo Car, owned by Geely of China, says it expects to sell 17,000 units a year - about 50 per cent to Europe and around 30 per cent to China. It will be built alongside the V40 and R-Design models at Volvo's factories in Belgium.