Cross country run

All-wheel-drive and an .ultra sophisticated interior steers boomers toward Volvo's sport-ute wanna' be.

Volvo touted its V70 XC station wagon as a rough, tough alternative to a true sport utility. But along came "Ceo Joe" as he was tagged by other auto writers on the press preview. Perhaps Joe, a New York City boy, was seduced by the Swedish automaker's PR imagery and believed too much in the V70's rugged looks and all-wheel-drive. Maybe, it was the sight of the fast flowing Alaskan steam ting ahead of him.

Whatever the reason, the Cosmopolitan magazine writer proceeded to plow the wagon into the rocky stream bed, immediately high-centering the V70. He then used all four wheels to dig downward. The wagon began to take on water. Volvo execs on the scene were not pleased. When two other Volvo XCs couldn't drag the stranded wagon out a local's dusty Ford F-350 pick-up popped the sleek Volvo off the rock.

The Cosmo Joe Show proves there's TV off-road and real off-road. Since 90% of sport utilities never leave the highway, Volvo's product planners chose to modify their excellent V70 wagon for light sport-ute duty. The Cross Country is a rugged, all-weather road runner.

The $37,960 Volvo is propelled bv a 2.0L 190 hp in-line 5-cylinder turbo and a 4-speed automatic. Made in Gamuet, Belgium, Volvo expects to sell 10,000 to 15,000 of the gun, ski and bike-hauling XC wagons in the U.S.

The interior is outdoorsy refined, with duck mill canvas inserts and leather bolsters. XC signature colors are dark gray and oak. Light wood trim and a top line SC-900 stereo audio svstem with in-dash 3-CD changer are available. The five-seater has 37.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the seat up, and 67 cubic feet with the seat folded flat.

On a dry road the V70 XC drives like a front-wheel drive. But when conditions head south, the car's AWD system automatically switches to 4-wheel drive - no levers or button pushing - via transfer differential, viscous clutch and an independent rear suspension with locking differential. Normally, 95% of the engine power is targeted for the front wheels. but as wheel spin starts the viscous clutch adjust torque distribution to all wheels as needed. Up to 95% of the power can be transferred to the rear, if necessary Just the thing Cosmo Joe oould use next time out.