XC60 Concept

Volvo's known as a pretty practical car brand, but lately it's been adding more style to its lineup, like the new C70 retractable-hardtop convertible. The automaker's done the same thing with its new show car, the XC60 concept, which provides a glimpse of what its upcoming small SUV will look like when it arrives in early 2009.

The front of the XC60 concept features an upright grille and a gaping lower opening that's outlined on the bottom by bright trim. Under the hood is a 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine that makes 265 horsepower and runs on E85 ethanol. The concept has a wagonlike appearance when viewed from the side, and has rather short side windows.

The rear bumper has a silver trim piece that mimics the one in front, and the mostly glass liftgate is a two-piece affair that's split in the middle. The lower portion of it motors up and down on a vertical plane, but we don't expect to see this complicated-looking design make it to the production model.

The front and rear outboard seats have long rectangular openings in the backrest that have ambient lighting; Volvo calls them "ponytail slots." The front portion of the cabin has a version of Volvo's floating center stack. This will likely see production, though it should be toned down somewhat.

The XC60 concept has a new Volvo safety system called City Safety. Designed to reduce rear-end collisions up to speeds around 19 mph, City Safety will brake the car if it's about to crash into a car in front of it. Volvo says City Safety will appear in production models within the next two years.