GENEVA – The new Volvo XC60 has its premiere showing at the international car show in Geneva on Mar. 4, and the first cars will reach dealers in Europe in autumn 2008. Volvo Cars’ new crossover features a variety of intelligent safety systems, including City Safety, which can help the driver avoid or reduce the effects of the type of low-speed impacts that are common in city traffic and traffic tailbacks. If the car is about to drive into the vehicle in front and the driver does not react, the car brakes itself.

The new XC60 is being launched with a choice of three engines: the turbocharged T6 that produces 285 hp, and two variants of the D5 turbodiesel, producing 185 and 163 horsepower, respectively. All Wheel Drive (AWD) is fitted as standard.

The sales target for the new XC60 is more than 50,000 cars per year. The five largest markets during 2010 will be the United States, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, and China.

The Volvo XC60 will be built at the Volvo Cars factory in Ghent, Belgium. Sales of the car will start in Europe during the second half of 2008, while sales in North America will get under way in early 2009.