XCs celebrate Volvo Ocean Race

Volvo Australia is getting in early to celebrate this month's start of the 2008/2009 Volvo Ocean Race. The around-the-world yacht race is the Swedish marque's highest profile marketing activity, and as such you can expect to be bombarded with images of mountainous waves and burly yachties over the next few months.

You might also keep an eye out for the on-road manifestation of this obsession with the briny -- specially equipped VOR versions of the XC70 and XC90.

Finished in a choice of Ocean Blue or Electric Silver (both "exclusive Volvo Ocean Race colours" the XC70 and XC90 get prominent VOR badging and unique colour-matched alloy wheel designs -- 17 and 18-inch respectively.

The XC70 is available in 3.2-litre inline petrol six or the 2.5-litre D5 turbodiesel variants. The XC90 Volvo Ocean Race range includes 3.2, D5 and V8 models.

Exterior changes to the VOR XC70 include bright chrome side window trims, silver painted aluminium roof rails and front and rear skid plates. Inside there's sailmaker-style cross-stitched leather upholstery (a choice of Soft Beige or Off Black), unique Ocean Race door panels and sillplates, and "a cross-stitched luggage area cover with a brushed aluminium cassette bearing the VOR emblem".

The VOR XC90 also gets more brightwork and a similar upgrade and choice of colours inside.

Prices start from $61,200 for the. This is a touch over $2000 more than the normal retail price for the XC70 of $58,950. Full pricing is shown below.

Volvo Australia has also announced updates across other models in its range for the 2009 model year.

As well as the adoption of "larger, bolder Volvo identification on the rear of all models", Volvo has made Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) standard across the full 2009 range Down Under. In addition, the maker's Lane Departure Warning with Driver Alert Control will be offered as an option on the S80, V70 and XC70. It is priced at $2075.

Volvo's top SUV model, the XC90 Executive also comes in for some more goodies -- getting massaging front seats and the upmarket 12-speaker Dynaudio Premium Sound system as standard.

Also now standard are bi-xenon headlights, rain sensor wipers and, on 3.2 and V8 models, Volvo's Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) incorporating dust, pollen and "active charcoal" filters.

The XC90 Executive models retail prices have been adjusted for LCT and now sit at $78,450, $81,450 and $94,450 for the 3.2, D5 and V8 models respectively.

Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) XC range
XC70 3.2 VOR - $61,200 (XC70 3.2 normally $58,950)
XC70 D5 VOR - $63,200 (XC70 D5 normally $60,950)

XC90 3.2 VOR - $73,200 (XC90 3.2 normally $70,950)
XC90 D5 VOR - $76,200 (XC90 D5 normally $73,950)
XC90 V8 VOR - $89,200 (XC90 V8 normally $86,950)

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