At the busiest stop on Amtrak's flagship Empire Builder route from Chicago to Seattle (68,000 passengers annually), Volvo introduced the new XC70 crossover and new safety technologies to come, in beautiful Whitefish, Mont. The new 2008 XC70 is all about family and being together in a safe environment, and Volvo's new slogan proves it: “Life is better lived together.”

The fresh new look of the XC70 redesign includes a simpler approach by getting rid of the cladding in the front of the car that made the previous XC70 look like it was a station wagon on steroids. In the new 2008 XC70, much of that cladding has been removed. Some cladding has been left in order to give it that rugged XC70 look, but the design overall feels like spring fresh clean lines through out.

Say goodbye to the 2007 XC70's five-cylinder engine, and say hello to the new 3.2-liter inline-six engine that produces 235 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The XC70 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. EPA rating is 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. Power is transferred via a new six-speed automatic transmission to Volvo's all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.

One of the reasons for having the press event in Montana was to show journalists the XC70's off-road capabilities. Now, you aren't going to be climbing rocks in the XC70, but the XC70 is one tough cookie and can handle a variety of off-road terrain all in a luxurious way. I drove about 150 miles of Glacier National Park's off-road terrain and not once did my back hurt or did I feel uncomfortable or fatigued. The engine felt strong, and the AWD traction had more grip than bear claws running up a path.

Standard for 2008 is a Downhill Descent Control, which slows the vehicle to 6 mph when it descends serious inclines. What is cool about this is that the system also works if you are going in reverse, like if you are dropping off a boat at the dock (3,300-pound towing capacity). The XC70 performed so well off-road that it should be in the World Rallye Championship (WRC). On paved roads, the XC70 was all class and provided a nice ride and the AWD traction sure made it feel like a champion on the curves. The XC70 is well balanced, and it provides theVolvo upscale atmosphere that we all have come to enjoy.

The interior is classic Volvo with intuitive controls and everything you need laid out in a perfect and useful Scandinavian design. The seats are comfortable but could use more lumbar and side supports for more spirited driving. A new feature is an electronic parking brake that automatically deactivates when the driver buckles up.

The big news for the 2008 XC70 model is the rear integrated dual booster child seats (Volvo engineers just think of everything!). The child booster seats have two height modes depending on the age of your child. The first mode is for children up to 6 years of age and the second is for children from 6-10 years of age.

These integrated booster seats are specifically designed to give your child the best of safety using today's technology. Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) further enhances the system with dual chamber (hip and chest) and extended inflatable curtain airbags. The seatbelt is perfectly positioned so while the child is in the booster seat, the lap belt crosses the child's pelvis and with SIPS, the child receives optimal protection in an accident. Children are also more comfortable in the integrated booster seat (because their short legs won't be dangling like they do in a normal seat) and allow them to have a better view of the road.

As safety is the No. 1 priority at Volvo, Thomas Broberg, senior technical advisor safety, explained what Volvo engineers are working up in their labs. They have taken a strong look at accident data that shows that 29 percent of accidents are rear-end collisions, 24 percent are from crossing paths and 9 percent from accidental lane change (data was compiled from 6,304,000 police reports). Volvo engineers came up with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Warning and Auto Brake and a Lane Departure warning system to help combat these accidents.

ACC is a system that is often found in today's vehicles. It provides a radar sensor that automatically keeps a safe distance between you and the other car when the cruise control is in operation.

The Collision Warning and Auto Brake system was the most interesting for me. It is a system that uses radar; a light flashing on the windshield warns you of a possible collision and pre-charges your brakes (stage 1). In the event that you don't see this happening (which is questionably impossible as the visible warning is a bright red light and audible warning is an alarm similar to your alarm clock without the snooze), the Auto Brake engages in full-force one second before the accident when the car determines that you are going to be in a collision. It dopes this to lessen the impact, since the vehicle realizes that the driver cannot avoid by braking and/or steering and a collision is unavoidable.

To avoid accidents that have drivers falling asleep, Volvo has come up with the Driver Alert with lane departure warning. A camera monitors the car position between the lines of the road. If the computer senses the driver not driving as smooth as he/she should be driving, an audible alert will activate asking them to pull over. This safety measure should be available next year.

The 2008 Volvo XC70 starts at $36,775 and comes in at $41,865 loaded. Base price went up $355 but you get a lot more value for your money with the 2008 model. Its competition includes the BMW 3-Series wagon and the Audi Avant Quattro but none provides the ruggedness the XC70 does in such an elegant manner. The XC70 offers on- and off-road WRC performance while keeping your loved ones in a completely safe environment.