There’s no question that the Crossomotive team loves the Volvo XC60 crossover. We loved it when it initially came out, as seen in our preview on the car. We loved the XC60’s City Safety system, even if there aren’t any figures yet that show how effective it is. We even featured the mixed-review XC60 ski campaign.

Now, Volvo is giving XC60 lovers and crossover lovers alike a new treat, as it will be releasing the sporty Volvo XC60 R-Design edition, which is set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The XC60 R-Design gets a sporty setup, with a new body kit and a lowered sports chassis. The car gets standard 18-inch Cratus aluminum wheels, but buyers also have the option to upgrade these to 20-inchers. The car’s lower part is color-coordinated with the body (although we personally prefer the matte black on the standard model’s lower parts).

There are also premium R-Design elements for the interior. The steering wheel has aluminum inserts, and there are also door moldings, aluminum pedals, and a new center console. There’s a new dual-tone design for the leather seats, too. Perforated-leather trimming and an R-Design engraving on the sports steering wheel round out the interior premiums.

The bottom line: If you loved the XC60, then you’ll definitely love the sportier XC60 R-Design.

We said we’d touch more on the innovative “City Safety” system that will have its production debut in the 2010 Volvo XC60 crossover. Well, here it is–the lowdown on the latest safety technology that is Volvo’s pride and joy. After all, they can’t be touting the XC60 as the “safest Volvo ever” for nothing.

City Safety scans distance and speed and engages the brakes when needed.

City Safety is a system designed to prevent low-speed collisions, the kind motorists mostly encounter while driving through city traffic and crowded urban areas (hence the name). The key to this is an optical sensor or radar located in the car’s upper windshield. This ’senses’ the speed of the car in front of the XC60 about 50 times per second, and if the car gets too close and the driver doesn’t react, then City Safety brakes the XC60 automatically. Awesome!

According to Volvo Cars president and CEO Fredrik Arp, the 2010 XC60 “is packed with (Volvo’s) accumulated safety know-how and technology, both when it comes to preventing accidents and protecting all the occupants in a collision.” He added that Volvo is the first automaker to provide such a system as a standard in its models, and it is clearly the main thing that makes the XC60 the safest Volvo yet.

Only time will tell if City Safety makes a big impact in preventing collisions. As the system sees more action in different models, then it can truly be proven.

The 2010 Volvo XC60

Volvo USA has just released pricing and detailed information on the all-new 2010 Volvo XC60, promising a healthy combination of state-of-the-art safety and excellent crossover styling.

First and foremost, the XC60 is the first Volvo production car to feature the City Safety technology revealed sometime in 2007. The system has an ability to stop the car to prevent low-speed collisions typical of city driving situations. We will discuss City Safety in more detail in the coming days.

Built on the cross country XC base, the XC60 offers rugged performance while having sleek sedan curves. It has a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine, capable of 281 horsepower at 295 lb.-ft. of torque.

The XC60 also offers a suite of other features, including a SIRIUS satellite radio with the first 6-month subscription free, HD radio, Bluetooth, and power driver’s seat. The optional Panorama monoroof is going to be offered for free in the XC60’s initial offering, so buyers would do well to purchase early if they want to avail of this excellent freebie.

All in all, the XC60 looks really great. It should emerge as one of the top mid-range luxury compact crossovers in 2009.

Source: Lethistorylive