New V70 unveiled, but uncertain for Oz

Volvo will introduce its all-new Volvo V70 estate at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The new wagon replaces the long-running and much-loved current V70 which has continued largely unchanged since 2000.

But in a surprising move, Volvo Australia may choose not to offer the archetypal Ovlov wagon locally. According to Volvo Australia Public Affairs Manager, Todd Hallenbeck, the local arm is yet to confirm the V70.

"We're looking at the V70 now and need to make a decision in the next 60 days or so," Hallenbeck told CarPoint.

"The V50 is working very well for us and in the previous generation the XC70 was a strong performer. We're confident that there is a market for the new V70 but we need to be equally confident about the size of that market," he said.

Hallenbeck said Australians have favoured the high-ride XC variant over the traditional Volvo wagon in recent years. When such a variant is announced (it's when, not if!), expect it to be a definite for the local Volvo showrooms.

The V70 was 'outed' by the company's US arm over the weekend. Volvo USA says the V70 is built on "entirely new architecture." In truth, it is built on the same large car platform as the revised S80 sedan which is set for launch Down Under this month.

While full details will not be revealed until Geneva, the V70 will debut with a 174kw/320Nm naturally-aspirated 3.2-litre transverse inline six-cylinder engine. It is unlikely Volvo will offer the S80's V8-AWD powertrain in the new wagon -- at least in the near future. The hottest V70 is picked to use a 210kW 3.0-litre turbocharged version of the inline six.

The V70's styling includes elements of the XC60 concept unveiled at January's Detroit Motor Show (for more click

"This [wagon] segment has been our specialty ever since we invented it back in the 1950s," said Volvo Cars President and CEO Fredrik Arp on the announcement of the new V70.

"Our competitors can count on us remaining number one in the future, too... With greater focus on design and comfort, the all-new V70 is both luxurious and practical.

"It's not just for families with growing children but also for active people that demand everything of their cars. In fact, we expect that half of all V70 buyers won't actually be families with children," Arp said.

The V70 features a 40/20/40 split rear seat as used in the popular XC90 SUV. Option such as a power tailgate, sliding load floor and underfloor storage compartment, and third row seating are all likely to make it to Oz. That is, if the decision is made to offer the car locally.

According to Hallenbeck, if the V70 does come Down Under, it won't arrive until very late in the year.