Volvo to debut S60 wagon in Paris

The new generation of S60 sedan hasn't even arrived in the country, but Volvo is already planning a wagon counterpart, the V60.

Word slipped out yesterday, during the local launch of the upgraded C30 and C70 siblings -- and the V60 will be coming to Australia as well, apparently.

"It'll debut at Paris and... the international launch is literally just prior to that," Volvo Australia Public Affairs Manager, Laurissa Mirabelli told the Carsales Network.

It won't be just a concept either, according to the Volvo spokesperson, and it's due here in the first quarter of next year, in production form. Being based on the S60 sedan, it can be expected to offer the same drivetrain options.

What does it mean for the other wagons in Volvo's local range? The V70, as opposed to the XC70 SUV, is a niche seller in the current market. Mirabelli doesn't see the V60 cutting the lunch of either the V70 or the smaller V50 wagon.

"V60 is a sportwagon and we'll not be replacing either the V70 or the V50 -- for the moment," she said.

It's the view of Volvo Australia that the V60 should have the same sort of impact in the local market that the XC60 SUV has had. Mirabelli explained that the smaller SUV, far from cannibalising sales of the XC90, had actually improved sales of the larger SUV.

"That was the result of new buyers coming in to look at an XC60 and deciding they needed something a bit larger," she said.

Volvo will have fingers crossed for lightning to strike twice.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi