Volvo boxes clever

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The new V70 is the first Volvo to be designed as an estate from the outset, reports DAVID LINKLATER.

Volvo's brand new 70-series estate has eschewed the boxy styling of its predecessor for a sleek new look. The family-orientated five-door is based on the platform of the Swedish company's flagship S80 sedan, and shares many of that model's styling cues, including its distinctive v-shaped grille and prominent shoulders.

"The aim has been to create an appearance that is both aerodynamic and powerful," says British-born Volvo design director Peter Horbury. "We also wanted to give the estate a clear sense of direction to create the impression that it aims straight ahead, almost like an arrow."

The newcomer will hit New Zealand showrooms in May in two turbocharged variants: the light-pressure 2.4-litre V70 T and the high-performance 2.3-litre V70 T5. A normally aspirated model will follow in August, and the line-up will be completed by the four-wheel-drive XC in November.

Prices are yet to be finalised, but the new range is likely to be significantly more expensive than the current line-up. Local importer Scandinavian Vehicle Distributors will also continue with the current V70 at least until the end of the year.

Although the Swedish marque - now owned by Ford as part of its Premier Automotive Group - is famous for its versatile estates, the new V70 is the first Volvo to have been designed as a load-carrier from the ground up. A sedan version has been mooted, but is likely to be at least a year away.

Volvo claims torsional stiffness has been greatly improved by bonding, rather than spot-welding, critical areas. A specially designed silencer in the external ventilation outlets helps reduce cabin noise.

Family-friendly features include a shopping bag holder in the luggage compartment, a foldaway rear-seat table, and seat belts integrated into the rear-seat backrest. The fixed and removable child seat for the rear is a first for the company.

The new car also lives up to Volvo's reputation for leading-edge safety. Among the active safety equipment is dynamic stability and traction control (DSTC), available for the first time on the V70. Sensors register when the steering wheel movements do not match the car's - such as in an oversteer slide - and DTSC uses the anti-lock system to apply brakes to one or more wheels to bring the car back on course. The system will be standard on the T5 and optional on the rest of the V70 line-up.

The V70 is also fitted with a comprehensive line-up of passive safety features. The front airbags have a two-stage operation, and inflate to only 70 percent of their capacity in less severe crashes.

The seat belt tensioning system has its response coordinated to the airbag operation. At the moment of impact all slack is eliminated, but then the belt is eased slightly to restrain the occupant more gently as the airbag takes over.

Side-impact curtain-style airbags protect front and rear-seat passengers by inflating to cushion their heads before the come into contact with the side of the vehicle.

Additional protection for front-seat passengers is provided by Volvo's WHIPS anti-whiplash system, which restrains the upper body and head during a rear-end impact.

Volvo claims changes to the V70's five-cylinder engines, including upgraded materials and hotter exhaust temperatures, have resulted in cleaner running and better fuel economy.

The 2.4-litre light-pressure turbo powerplant used in the V70 T and XC produces 147kW at 6000prm and maximum torque of 285Nm from as low as 1000rpm. The 2.3-litre unit in the T5 pumps out 184kW at 5200rpm and 330Nm between 2400 and 5200rpm.

The new estate is certain to be a significant model for Volvo in New Zealand. Of the company's record 312 record sales last year, 93 were V70s.