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Volvo XC70 All-Terrain Concept Takes on the Wild Unknown

Could the XC70 All-Terrain be Volvos Touareg Fighter?

For the past three years, Volvo has shown up at the SEMA modification car show in Las Vegas, Nevada with some pretty interesting vehicles. Previous creations have included a wild 850-horsepower supercharged XC90 PUV (Performance Utility Vehicle), as well as an all-weather high-performance cargo-transporter, the V50 SV. The focus of SEMA for Volvo this year treks off the paved path with the XC70 AT (All-Terrain) Concept.

Every Volvo project item at SEMA has a theme, and this XC70 concept enters the wild world of off-road racing. Volvo and U.S.-based aftermarket tuner, IPD, have teamed up to create Volvos version of a desert-storming

The focus of SEMA for Volvo this year treks off the paved path with the XC70 AT (All-Terrain) Concept. (Photo: Volvo Cars of North America)

racer, that is, without sacrificing the safety, practicality and drivability of a regular passenger car.

The XC70 AT is sensible Volvo styling taken to an entirely new level, with functionality as the highest priority. With the intent of a creating a vehicle capable of dealing with some of the most inhospitable places on earth, the AT Concept shows serious

The XC70 AT is sensible Volvo styling taken to an entirely new level, with functionality as the highest priority. (Photo: Volvo Cars of North America)

promise behind its plastic cladding. A purpose-built front bumper with integrated skid plates and 10,000 pound winch is added up front, while a custom roof rack equipped with sunlight-bright PIAA 520 off-road lights is attached on top. The rack comes complete with plenty of off-roading goodies, including a high-lift jack, spare jerry can and tire, plus a 1,000-watt generator. The car is painted in saffron and silver, reminiscent of Mexican sunsets.

On the inside, IPD has revised

The S60/V70 Rs 300-horsepower 2.5T has replaced the 200-horsepower light pressure turbocharged motor found in the production XC70. (Photo: Volvo Cars of North America)

the interior with a durable yet sporty theme. The traditional orthopedic Volvo seats with active whiplash protection are trimmed not in leather, but in black and gray neoprene, the same material used to make wetsuits. To improve the atmosphere of the otherwise stock interior, the standard high-gloss wood trim has been replaced with brushed aluminum, borrowed from the sporty V70R. Giving the XC70 AT the power to muscle through the rock-strewn terrain of the Baja is Volvos most powerful production inline-five. The S60/V70 Rs 300-horsepower 2.5T has replaced the 200-horsepower light pressure

A new 3-inch stainless steel exhaust system improves flow and amplifies the inline-fives unique engine note. (Photo: Volvo Cars of North America)

turbocharged motor found in the production XC70, but IPD and Volvo didnt just stop at the engine transplant. Given IPDs extensive background in Volvo performance, theyve modified the motor even further to extract an amazing 408-horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque.

The XC70 ATs hefty power gains can be attributed to whats essentially a total engine makeover. The mild-mannered wagon now features a bigger Garrett turbocharger, and an upgraded top-mount intercooler for better performance. A new 3-inch stainless steel exhaust system improves flow and amplifies the inline-fives unique engine note. Aside from building the vehicle, IPD also contributed their in-house developed Stage III software, which enables the relatively

No ones going to doubt whether or not the AT has off-road credentials.(Photo: Volvo Cars of North America)

small engine to produce such massive amounts of power - it has a specific output of 163-hp per liter.

Given the fact that this is probably the most powerful Volvo XC70 in existance, upgrades to the drivetrain were made. The extra torque from the engine, and the vehicles rough and tough off-road nature put unforeseen demands on the car. To cope, the AT Concept features the new six-speed automatic gearbox borrowed from the new XC90 V8 SUV. Surprisingly, the car still utilizes the Haldex multi-plate wet clutch system, which distributes power when wheel slip is electronically detected. Within one-seventh of a rotation, torque can be redistributed to maintain optimal traction.

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