VOLVO has taken the wraps off a concept car which not only gives clues to the firm’s BMW X3 rival but also points to how new Volvos will look from now on.

The XC60 concept, which will be revealed at next month’s Detroit Motor Show, debuts the firm’s new design language under British design boss Steve Mattin.

A production version of the XC60 will arrive in 2009 to compete with the X3 as well as the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz junior M-class and the Audi Q5.