Geneva motor show - Volvo

Volvo's Koh-I-Noor
The V70 is not Volvo's biggest seller, nor its most expensive model, but the company calls the estate its 'jewel in the crown'. So you get an idea just how important the new V70 - making its world debut here in Geneva - is to Volvo.

While the previous version is based on the S60 saloon, this V70 has its roots in the larger S80 executive car. The most obvious place where you can see the difference is in the boot, which as increased by 11.5%.

The range includes a mixture of petrol and diesel engines, including, for the first time, a six-cylinder unit.

As well as 145bhp 2.5-, 173bhp 3.0- and 207bhp 3.2-litre petrol engines, buyers also have the choice of a 161bhp 2.4 or 183bhp D5 diesels to choose from. A biofuel engine that can run on up to 85/15% mix of ethanol and petrol (E85) is also available from launch.

Kiddie carrier?
The rear seats have integrated child booster cushions that can be set at two heights - a world-first.

The lower setting is for children between 115cm and 140cm tall and weighing 22-36kg, while the upper setting is designed for children between 95cm and 129cm tall and weighing 15-25kg.

The integrated booster is accompanied by seat belts that restrain the child with just the right amount of force in an accident, and curtain airbags that stretch back the length of the cabin.

When and how much?
The new V70 will be in showrooms in time for the '57' registration plate change in September, with a starting price of around £26,000.

What else is on the stand?
If you prefer your estates a little more chunky, the new XC70 also makes its debut at Geneva.

It's quite a bit more developed than the last XC70, and comes with greater levels of comfort, space equipment and off-road ability than ever before, says Volvo.

It comes with a 235bhp 3.2-litre straight-six petrol engine or a 182bhp 2.4-litre D5 turbodiesel, and the all-new chassis and bespoke suspension settings give it a 210mm ground clearance. Volvo also says it has improved entry and departure angles for better off-roading than the previous car.

Perhaps most impressive of all is the amount of safety equipment Volvo has crammed into it. It'll have crumple zones made with different-strength steel to absorb energy during and impact and the same whiplash protection system found in the S80.

It also has dual-compartment side airbags, with two separate chambers for the hips and the chest. There's a two-stage child booster seat, too, for children between 95-140cm in height and 15-36kg in weight.

To read more about it, see our feature by clicking here.

And?
Making its European debut here in Geneva is the XC60 concept car - a smaller version of the XC90 4x4. We saw this concept at the Detroit motor show at the start of the year. Click here to find out more.

To see video footage of the Volvo stand, and more on the V70 and XC70, click here.