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New Models - Volvo XC90

Volvo extends R-Design reach

Distinctive: All R-Design models feature special grille badging.

XC90 and V70 come in for Volvo's R-Design treatment, joing the C30, S40 and V50

7 November 2008

By MARTON PETTENDY

VOLVO Car Australia has widened the availability of its R-Design styling pack to include the XC90 and V70 wagons.

Previously only available (at $3700) for the C30, S40 and V50 T6, the R-Design pack for the V70 T6 costs $4175.

It includes a lower ride height (20mm front; 15mm rear), sports-tuned anti-roll bars and bushes, a colour-coded rear spoiler, two-tone leather sports seats with embossed R-Design logo, exclusive 18-inch ‘Cratus’ alloy wheels, twin 90mm chrome exhaust outlets, ‘satin matt’ coloured side mirrors and grille (with R-Design badge), blue R-Design instrumentation, R-Design floor mats with contrasting piping, a leather-trimmed R-Design sports steering wheel and gearshifter, and an aluminium trimmed centre stack and pedals.

The R-Design pack for the XC90 3.2, D5 and V8 costs $6000 and effectively replaces the XC90 V8 Sport, which donates its beefier anti-roll bars, firmer shock absorbers, self-levelling Nivomat suspension system, quad exhaust system, exclusive 19-inch R-Design alloys (20-inch items are available for a further $1600) and plus sports-tuned speed-dependent power steering.

VolvoXC90 center image Left: R-Design XC90 (top) and V70 (bottom).

Apart from an R-Design bodykit, the XC90 R-Design kit also includes a 12-speaker/six-CD Dynaudio Premium Sound system, Bi-xenon headlights with washers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, Volvo’s Interior Air Quality System, leather sports seats with contrasting piping, satin-matt coloured side mirrors and grille, chronograph-style R-Design instrumentation, R-Design sports floor mats with contrasting piping, a sports steering wheel, perforated leather gearshifter, alloy pedals, a ‘silk matt’ finish to replace chrome trim and unique brushed stainless steel sill mouldings.

Priced at $3700, the C30, S40 and V50 R-Design package continues to comprise a bodykit with rear spoiler, exclusive 17-inch R-Design alloys (18s are available with the C30 for an extra $1600), twin chrome exhaust outlets, ‘satin matt’ coloured side mirrors and grille, R-Design ‘Ultrasonic’ trim, a sports steering wheel, gearshifter and pedals, R-Design embossed off-black Vulcaflex and cream leather seats, R-Design instrumentation and R-Design floor mats with contrasting piping.

“R-Design is entirely in line with the accelerated focus on making our cars more extrovert and emotional. It gives the buyers the opportunity to spice up the already distinct personality of these car models,” said Volvo Cars’ senior vice-president and design director, Steve Mattin.