Alx

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According to the Swedish car magazine Auto Motor Und Sport, Volvo is rumored to be working on a new luxury model positioned above the XC90 and S80 and possibly labelled the XC100. Expected to be a luxury
wagon, it would compete with the Mercedes R-Class on the American and Asian markets.
It is not the first time a luxury wagon has been mentioned: Volvo revealed the luxury VCC concept car at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show. 193" long, the concept car was as big as a Volvo S80 and provided a luxury atmosphere based on thick saddle-quality leather and anodised aluminium. Although inspired by the concept car, the future XC100 would be able to seat up to seven passengers. It could also be equipped with a hybrid drivetrain.
At a time when the R-Class is not selling well, Volvo's approach is surprising. The XC, expected to be produced at a low volume, is unlikely to make a significant contribution to the carmaker's sales target of 600,000 vehicles per year over the next few years.
Launched in April 2006, 11, 783 S80 were sold by December the same year. The first trimester of 2007 looks better with 11,788 sales and the annual target of 40,000 seems achievable. However, the C30 still needs to prove it can succeed in this highly competitive market segment.
For the XC100, 20,000 vehicles might be an ambitious target. Obviously the XC90's success proves that Volvo has a strong brand image in the luxury wagon/SUV market. But the R-Class experience shows that
customers are not ready to buy just any vehicle based on a strong brand image alone. That is, unless Volvo has found the magic potion...

Bartek Sikorski

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