( autoinsiderne ) - Volvo has decided to jump the gun and unveil its all-new XC70 a day before the official press day at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. Volvo dropped some images and a press release for its new 2008 XC70. Borrowing the new body shell of it V70 sibling, the XC70 features its typical rugged appearance enhancements, including the matte black lower cladding, fender flares, and increased ride height.
The all-new 2008 XC70 will be offered with either Volvo's 3.2L six-cylinder gas engine good for 238-hp and 236 lb-ft of torque or Volvo's 2.4L five-cylinder D5 turbodiesel that delivers 185-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The gas engine is the first six-cylinder ever in the XC70. And we aren't expecting the diesel in the States. All XC70s have all-wheel drive standard with Dynamic Stability and Traction Control.
As with all new Volvos, the XC70 is equipped with an incredible number of ground-breaking active and passive safety features to ensure that it's the safest car in its class, including improved crumple zones, an energy absorbing front fascia, a new extended curtain airbag, the same advanced WHIPS (whiplash protection system) as that found in the new S80, and Volvo's innovative dual-stage integrated rear child booster seat. The Volvo XC70 can also be equipped with additional safety features like Volvo's award-winning BLIS (blind spot information system), ACC (adaptive cruise control with collision warning and brake support), active bi-xenon headlamps, radar-controlled collision warning, and Volvo PCC (personal car communicator), which locks and unlocks the car as well informing the owner if the alarm has been triggered or, using a heartbeat monitor, to detect if someone is in the car.