Jan. 12--It was like a United Nations meeting at the Volvo presentation at Monday's Detroit Auto Show.
The Swedish brand, owned by a Chinese company, used the American auto show to debut the S60 Inscription and S60 Cross Country, two sedans headed to the U.S. market by this summer.
The S60 Inscription is notably the first Chinese-built car that Volvo will sell in the U.S. The company was bought from Ford by Chinese company Geely in 2010.
Though Volvo is touting the S60 as built to meet U.S. customers' demands, it's really repurposing a car that was designed for the Chinese market. The long wheelbase gives rear-seat passengers an extra 3.4-inches of legroom versus the base S60. (The upgrade is one most automakers have made to their sedans to satisfy the demands of Chinese buyers who more often are chauffeured in their cars.)
The S60 Inscription will be built in Volvo's factory in Chengdu, China, which Volvo says "has been built in accordance with globally monitored quality standards." In addition to the extra legroom, the Inscription upgrade comes with unique walnut and brushed metal trim and 19-inch wheels.
Volvo fans living in snowier climes have the new S60 Cross Country to consider.
This buff sedan is mechanically identical to the V60 Cross Country wagon Volvo introduced at the L.A. Auto Show in November. It rides 2.5-inches higher than your average S60 sedan, and comes with all-wheel-drive and a 250-horsepower inline five-cylinder engine.
Both vehicles will be coming to the U.S. this summer, the S60 Cross Country being available "on a limited basis," Volvo said.
