km : Automotive News

Volvo isn't about to let the excitement about the impressive new XC60 die down. Last month, the new mid-size crossover sold over 1000 units, making it Volvo's hottest seller. Naturally, once a model gets popular it only makes sense to create a halo model for those people willing to spend a bit extra to have something special to help them stand out among the crowd. The XC60 R-design debuted this past summer to fill that role, and while it was first shown at the Frankfurt show, LA marks the model's North American debut.

The new R-Design model takes the XC60's bold, muscular design and dials out some ruggedness in exchange for a more urban, upscale personality. You won't see any unpainted plastic cladding here. Up front, the XC60 receives a reworked front fascia with matte aluminum accents along the grille edges and a color-matched lower section. A similar treatment continues along the body sides, which include matte sills, and along back, where you'll find an attractive skid plate with cutouts for dual exhaust outlets. The door handles are painted in the same color as the car, while the side mirror caps continue the matte metal theme. Volvo's five-spoke "Cratus" wheel comes standard in 18-inch form, while the 20-inchers you see pictured are optional. From these pictures, it seems the tires still have a fair amount of sidewall, meaning that buyers can opt for the larger wheelset without fears of discomfort or damage.

For R-Design treatment, the XC60's chassis has been retuned for increased sportiness, which should cure some of the softness and body roll we observed in our recent comparison test. The XC60 R-Design retains the base car's ride height, meaning that, so far as we've heard, the chassis adjustments are limited to firmer damping. While we're interested to see how those changes benefit the XC60's sporting character, we're more interested in experiencing the new steering, which benefits from a more direct gear for quicker response.



Based on the R-Design line's mission statement, which focuses more on upscale appointments than the outright sportiness of Volvo's older "R" cars, this model wouldn't be complete without a serious reworking of the interior. Two unique leather upholstery options are offered--off-black with soft beige inserts or the same colors, only reversed. The front seats are adjustable for two different firmness levels--one for optimal lateral support and another focused on comfort. The steering wheel is wrapped in perforated leather with an R-Design logo engraved at six o'clock; additional emblems are embossed in the front backrests. The interior appointments are rounded out by blue gauges, aluminum pedals, a unique center stack, a perforated leather gear selector, and R-Design floor mats.

"The R-Design model boosts the XC60's already sporty aura and gives the car an even more refined character in terms of both driving experience and design," says Lennart Stegland, president of Volvo Special Vehicles. "These are properties that we know appeal to the discerning buyers of this type of cars." The R-Design XC60 will officially meet public eyes at the Frankfurt show in September. It will compete head-to-head with Audi's Q5 S-line model, and while Mercedes-Benz and BMW don't offer similar special models of the GLK350 and X3, respectively, the R-Design will face off with heavily-optioned versions of those models. Pricing and an on-sale date for the U.S. market have yet to be announced.

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