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From Swedespeed.com Volvo News Frankfurt wasn't exactly a show full of surprises for Volvo, but it was by no means a quiet one, either. While no super-secret surprises made their way down from Frankfurt, a whole handful of new models and refreshes hit the stage. Additionally, the fantastic S60 concept car was in attendance, as was one of the few V70 plug-in hybrids that Volvo is currently testing with hopes of a 2012 limited-production launch. Here's a recap of the larger news at the Volvo booth.
The XC60 R-Design debuted on the internet some months ago, but Frankfurt was the car's first public showing worldwide. The deletion of some of the base car's unpainted plastic elements gives the XC60 a slightly more cohesive, more upscale and urban appearance. It also looks quite good in passion red, despite the fact that bright colors can sometimes be overwhelming on larger vehicles. Would we but it over a V70 R-Design? Both are quite attractive, but the XC60 benefits from more chassis upgrades and is actually offered here in the U.S. with the turbocharged engine, so it brings a lot to the table. But we don't blame the V70 for those shortcomings. The XC60 R-Design on display at Frankfurt also sported a manual transmission, something we'd be interested to try in this sporty new crossover. Maybe next time we're in Europe.
The C70 refresh was the second announcement to leak out early, with photos emerging in early September. At first look the new front end was a bit awkward, perhaps only because we've been used to seeing the current car's simple little nose. The more we look at the new C70, and especially now that we've seen it in person, the new look is growing on us. It looks very contemporary, a bit more aggressive, but yes, a bit more plasticky.
A new C30, which mostly shares its front with the C70 but has deeper grooves and more prominent grilles bolder edges than the convertible, debuted and dominated the stage--power in numbers. Along with a base C30, Volvo debuted a new C30 R-Design, a new C30 DRIVe capable of just 99 g/km of C02 emissions, and a C30 with a new sport appearance package. The latter comes with specific wheels (very attractive ones) and a body kit that almost makes it look like a mini XC70 without the lift kit. Both the C70 and the C30 debut with some interesting new color choices both inside and out, and we're excited to see some of the more creative combos out on the road next spring when both cars go on sale here. For more of everything at the Volvo booth, click through the gallery link below.
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