Volvo's big year

VOLVO has confirmed 2006 will be one of its biggest years for new-model activity in Australia.

The Swedish brand’s redesigned C70 coupe-convertible appeared in at the Brisbane motor show opening on Friday, direct from its Australian debut in Melbourne on February 9, and goes on sale here in August.

The brand’s all-new S80 flagship sedan is due on sale here in October, while a facelifted XC90 SUV (possibly with a V8 engine option) is slated for a late 2006 release.

Volvo’s all-new C30 compact SUV will be a mid-2007 Australian arrival following its production debut at Sepetember’s Paris motor show.