Since the XC70 has an off-road role in life, its exterior styling has been suitably butched up to compensate. The front and rear bumpers are rugged looking dark colored plastic, the ride height is 74mm higher than the V70 wagon, and other styling cues – such as the brush bar-look moldings on the front bumper – serve to indicate that Ulf likes to tromp the Gothenburg woods once in a while. It succeeds in hitting its target of making the XC70 look tough, but viewed in a different way it has the effect of putting nerd glasses and flood pants on the otherwise striking and, dare we say, beautifully styled V70 wagon. We have a feeling Volvo faithful won't mind.