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Volvo XC70 - Crossover model with enhanced profile

25 May 2004

• More powerful grille and larger skidplates
• Roof rails in brushed aluminium
• Headlamps with clear lenses
• New body and bumper colours
• Interior with higher quality impression
• Practical tunnel console with multifunctional armrest
• New generation of Volvo seats

"The Volvo XC70 continues to become increasingly popular," says Steve Harper, Platform chief designer. "The fact that we have made it even more rugged and durable is going to attract still further interest to this model."

Enhanced crossover character
The model year 2005 Volvo XC70 has been upgraded on a number of points, each of which helps beef up the car’s appeal and character. The grille has a larger "egg-crate" mesh that contributes to a hungrier appearance and boosts the car’s robust stance. The car also has larger skidplates as standard both front and rear. The roof rails are made of brushed aluminium. The door mirrors are from the Volvo XC90. For the XC70, this means better rear vision through larger mirrors. The door mirrors are optionally available with a mechanism that folds them parallel with the car body – ideal when parking in congested spots. The special XC attributes – the robust bumpers, the wheel housing extensions and the lower side trims – now come in a new colour, Stone Grey, that replaces the previous blue-grey. The brown variant is still available as an alternative. The Volvo XC70 also has a new, specially designed standard wheel, "Erinus". It is a 16" aluminium wheel with a potent design, intended for tyre dimension 215/65.

Headlamps with clear lenses
As on the S60 and V70, the headlamps are of the new type with clear lenses and high performance reflector design (for both the halogen and Bi-Xenon lamps). At the same time, Volvo has switched from glass to plastic, which is lighter and more resistant to stone-chip damage. It is also gentler on pedestrians in the event of a collision. Volvo’s traditional headlamp wipers have been replaced with high-pressure washers – on the XC model with fixed nozzles. The windscreen wipers are also of a new type, featuring integrated flat blades. They have a more modern appearance and produce less wind noise than traditional wiper blades do. What is more, they apply more pressure on the windscreen, which improves wiper effectiveness. The tail lamps too have a more technically-inspired design with transparent glass and visible bulbs. In addition, the light pattern has been altered. "We have made it easier to recognise a Volvo from the rear in the dark," explains Steve Harper. The emblems on the tailgate are now located in the same position as on the sedan models, with the Volvo name in the middle, the model designation on the left and the engine designation on the right.

Interior with solid appeal
Volvo’s designers have focused hard on making the interior comfortable and inviting. "We have spared no effort to ensure that the quality perception is the best imaginable," says Steve Harper. "With homogeneous contours, natural materials, flexible functions and new trim alternatives, we aimed at reinforcing the feeling of Scandinavian design at its best." For example, the centre console – the car’s central control panel – has a slimmer design with a decorative surrounding frame in materials such as genuine walnut or authentic aluminium (light or dark). The audio system, which has been upgraded with Dolby Pro Logic II, has new, separate buttons for quick selection of radio stations and functions, and the most advanced system has an integrated CD changer for no less than six discs.

Practical tunnel console with the emphasis on versatility
The tunnel console is entirely new, with a more homogeneous design and far stiffer construction than before. This considerably boosts the aura of quality. The storage and cupholder compartment has a tougher, more open design than in the S60 and V70. And the grab-handle, which is unique to the XC model, is now made more substantial, by using genuine aluminium. The armrest between the front seats is also entirely new. "My design team and I are particularly proud of this," comments Steve Harper. "It’s designed for what we consider to be the ultimate, multi-functional armrest. In fact we nicknamed it 'the American Dream'. It has a number of practical features – cupholders, trays and a storage compartment that can be utilised in a variety of ways." The rear armrest also has a new, more functional design with fixed cupholders and a higher-quality feel.

New generation of Volvo seats
A new generation of Volvo seats is now being introduced, offering improved seating comfort and more convenient adjustment. The seats have:
• added vertical adjustment (+12 mm) – with a new "pump control"
• simpler adjustment of seat angle – with yet another "pump control"
• improved controls for lumbar support (require less force to turn)
• slimmer head restraints, providing better visibility from the rear seat

"The Volvo XC70 is designed for comfort even when the road conditions deteriorate," concludes Steve Harper. "The new generation of seats elevates the ride to an even higher level of comfort."

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