New Volvo XC90 previewed | video

Volvo has revealed styling for the next mid-size XC90 and the rest of its crossover range in image, sketches and video of the Concept XC Coupe that will be unveiled in the lead-up to January's Detroit motor show. This is the second stage of Volvo's design rebirth, following on from the Concept Coupe that starred for them at Frankfurt motor show in September.

Like the Frankfurt car, the XC concept has been created by Volvo chief designer Thomas Ingenlath, and looks to follow a similar path -- albeit with a higher ride and more rugged crossover styling than the streamlined Concept Coupe.

However the XC gets the earlier car's new face with a vertical grille, split horizontal headlight clusters and clamshell bonnet, but also shows the crossover wagon body, and carries a roof box that's unlikely to be standard fitment -- or good for already hefty SUV fuel usage.

It looks clean and uncluttered, and largely close to a production form, although there's an exaggerated development of the signature Volvo shouldered taillights, and the vertical-cut exhaust tips and orange-striped tyres may not make it off the motor show floor.

There's no indication yet of what is under the bonnet, but it could follow the Concept Coupe's hybrid set-up with a turbocharged and supercharged (for high and low rev response) 1.4-litre engine mated with an electric motor, together producing a total of 300kW of power and 600Nm of torque.

However while a hybrid variant is on the cards, the production version will also carry something closer to the current engine choices of a 179kW/320Nm 3.2-litre petrol unit -- although possibly downsized -- and a 147kW/420Nm 2.4-litre diesel.

Watch the desktop version of the Volvo XC90 previewed video.

This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott