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What It Is
Volvo V70 Preview – 2007 Geneva Auto Show: Volvo may not have invented the wagon, but it sure does a great job defining what one is. In the beginning, its wagons were utilitarian devices simply to expedite hauling people and things. Today, it is a go-to brand for luxury hauling, a position sure to be even more firmly established when the new 2008 Volvo V70 wagon goes on sale. Redesigned inside and out, this sharp looking ride boasts a range of new engines, modern and luxurious interiors and the latest in safety technology, including the first built-in adjustable child booster seat. Based on the new S80 sedan’s mechanicals, the V70 does not offer that car’s V8 engine, but does offer a 3.2-liter inline-six for the first time.
Why It Matters
The V70 isn’t exactly Volvo’s flagship; that honor goes to the S80 sedan. But it’s a close second, and let’s face it, when we think Volvo we’re still largely thinking safe and sensible, and few vehicles are more sensible than a wagon – especially one as large as the V70. The new V70 also further entrenches Volvo as the safety leader with new features such as an adjustable-height integrated child booster seat, bigger curtain airbags that are long enough to protect small children in an accident, a rigid body structure made up of three different kinds of high-strength steel and many more advancements.
What's Under the Hood
Powering the V70 is an optional 3.2-liter inline six cylinder engine making 235 horsepower. Although no details were given, we can assume that this engine will be mated to the same six-speed automatic transmission that it’s paired with in the S80 sedan. There was also no word of all-wheel drive, nor the V8 engine that is available in the S80. Beyond saying that the V70 will have the 3.2-liter available (implying other engines will be in the mix, too), Volvo was tight lipped about what will be under the hood.
What It Looks Like
What we can tell you is that the V70 is the first wagon in a long time – maybe ever – that makes us drool. The lines on this new car echo the sexy new S80 sedan, but even the wagon body is gracefully done. The grille boasts Volvo’s standard egg crate pattern, but with chrome on the vertical bars to give it a little more character. The profile is also very good, and it’s obvious that the S80 platform was intended to have a wagon variant from the very beginning. The V70’s tailgate is designed to echo the new C30 and Volvos of the past, with the corporate name spelled out across the hatch under the glass.
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