VAIL, COLORADO – When one thinks of Volvo, safety and luxury are of the first words that usually come to mind when thinking about brand image. The term “Rugged” often isn’t associated with Volvo vehicles. However, when Volvo introduced its Cross Country line in 1997, it aimed to attract those interested in rugged capability, paired with the aforementioned qualities. With the all new V90 Cross Country, Volvo puts a stronger emphasis on “rugged” luxury.
The V90 Cross Country sets itself apart from its sibling, the V90 wagon, through a number of exterior and suspension adjustments. Exterior body panels of the Cross Country receive body cladding to accentuate its all-road capabilities and fundamental durability. The same body lines from the upcoming V90 (also debuting at the same time) are carried through to the V90 Cross Country, as well as the interior design.
To handle the adventurous demands, a raised suspension and larger wheels help tackle less ideal road conditions. With its all-wheel drive, heightened ground clearance, and optimized chassis, the V90 Cross Country will also be able to handle the brutal Canadian winters with ease.
The 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country will be available in the first quarter of 2017 with a starting pricetag of $61,900.
First Look: 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country Gallery
Full Press Release:
Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, has unveiled the eagerly awaited V90 Cross Country, completing its 90 Series line-up.
Since the introduction of the first Cross Country almost 20 years ago, Volvo Cars has become synonymous with the rugged all-road, all-weather product category, with a growing stable of Cross Country models.
Volvo Cars’ Cross Country models fulfil an increasingly important part of the Swedish automaker’s product portfolio as luxury car buyers seek out a more experienced-based lifestyle that occasionally takes them off the beaten track.
“The V90 Cross Country takes the elegance of the V90 and transforms it into an all-road car that delivers safety, comfort and performance in a capable and adventurous package,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President & CEO, Volvo Car Group.
With some of the harshest winters on the planet and over 77 per cent of the country covered in forest and lakes, Sweden is the natural place to develop and test extreme durability and all-weather capable cars. This hard-won expertise represents a large part of Volvo Cars’ heritage, reflected in the company’s Cross Country model line-up.
“Our cars are well known for their safety, strength and durability. With All-Wheel Drive, increased ride height, and a chassis optimised for comfort and control in all weather and road conditions, the new V90 Cross Country takes our versatile V90 estate and adds the heart of an explorer,” said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research & Development at Volvo Cars.
With Volvo Cars’ Scalable Product Architecture providing the underpinnings, the V90 Cross Country has undergone rigorous testing to ensure that it can survive the extremes in which it will ultimately find itself.
From secret testing facilities in the frozen north of Sweden, where temperatures regularly hit -40 degrees centigrade to the searing desert heat of Arizona, where Volvo Cars performs its high temperature testing program, the V90 Cross Country has been built to last.
With a design that clearly stands out from the crowd, the V90 Cross Country’s rugged character belies a sumptuous interior that delivers a level of luxury uncommon in the segment, combining all the benefits of the connectivity and entertainment features that were launched with the new S90 and V90, including a high-end sound system by Bowers & Wilkins.
The V90 Cross Country’s exterior design cues communicate the powerful and dynamic capability that the car exemplifies, while offering the flexibility to choose from both rugged and elegant expressions.
“Designing a Volvo Cross Country is not a styling exercise, a plastic job. It is based on honest capability. The Volvo V90 Cross Country brings a surprising and intriguing combination of a strong, powerful exterior and a luxurious, Scandinavian interior. It will continue the genuine tradition of the Volvo Cross Country with a new recipe: The blend of powerful off-road capability in a most elegant, sophisticated, tailored wagon suit,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Cars.
The new V90 Cross Country takes this well-established segment to a new level of comfort-inspired capability. Production of the car is set to start this autumn at Volvo Cars Torslanda Plant in Sweden.
