Volvo has released a teaser for a new variant of the Cross Country variant of their V90 flagship wagon that traces the roots of the past XC cars that stretch back 20 years and has grown from a specialty to one of Volvo’s most enduring vehicle types.
If it weren't for the original V70 XC there wouldn’t be any Volvo XC series of SUV, and that would be a shame on account of them being rather good. But rather than slot the XC variants under the SUV category, they kept at it and offered many follow ons - big and small - with four-wheel drive and off-road credentials.
Indeed they were alternatives to the SUVs of the period, bridging a divide between the often too large off-roaders and front-driven passenger cars.
Tentatively named the V90 Cross Country, we expect to see many of the same list of mechanical and visual changes such as a protective cladding around the lower perimeter of the vehicle, a raised ride height, all-wheel drive, and thicker tyres.
In the video the narrator highlighted the Cross Country’s ability to deliver additional terrain capability while maintaining passenger comfort. We have no reason to believe that the upcoming rugged V90’s interior won’t be just as plush as we’ve come to expect from the now-Chinese owned Swedish automaker’s cars.
In fact, the V90 could be the most comfortable of the bunch, with its off-road ability benefitting from a more softly tuned suspension for maximum road contact, if at the expense of total body control.
Volvo’s current crop of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines should ideal for use in the V90 Cross Country as is, particularly the more powerful T6-tier 235kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol and the 173kW/480Nm four-pot turbodiesel from the D5. That being said, we have our doubts as to whether the T8 Twin Engine setup making its appearance.
Given the timing of this teaser and in spite of no official word yet emerging from Volvo themselves, the V90 Cross Country could very likely make its debut at the upcoming 2016 Paris Motor Show that starts at the end of September. Following the full unveil, the car could be subject to a staggered global rollout across early 2017.
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