Geneva Preview: Volvo Ocean Race special editions

Volvo is celebrating the fortieth anniversary of its triennial yacht race with several special-edition vehicles that will be on display at the Geneva Motor Show and sold during 2014 and 2015.

The Volvo Ocean Race is one of the most grueling sailing races, requiring teams to cover over 38,000 nautical miles with stops in 11 different cities around the globe. The 70-foot yachts set off on October 4 in Alicante, Spain and finish more than eight months later in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The sailing-inspired Volvo Ocean Race packages include aesthetic tweaks for the V40, V40 Cross Country, V60 and XC60, along with handling upgrades for the V70 and XC70.

The vehicles will be available in four colors–Ocean Blue II, Bright Silver, Black Sapphire and Crystal White–with seven-spoke “Portunus” wheels in 17- and 18-inch diameters. Volvo Ocean Race badges adorn the tread plates and front fenders.

On the inside, black or blond leather upholstery features orange stitching and the yacht-race logo. The orange accents also extend to the door panels and floor mats.

Alongside the sailing-themed packages, a separate special-edition V70 features a lower chassis for improved handling. The company is also offering its XC70 with a full range of dynamic-chassis upgrades for the first time. Both vehicles also add high-gloss black trim details and similarly-themed wheels.