Alfie Cox, South Africa's most experienced Dakar racer and his German co-driver, Jürgen Schröder, has not been this talkative and excited since they joined forces in 2009.

Cox could not hold back the delight when he arrived back in South Africa: "Man that car is so much more than I expected and the team is just amazing!" The pair will be racing the all-new Scandinavian built Pewano PS Laser Volvo XC60 RR in the 2012 Dakar Rally.

Cox and Schröder went to Sweden to meet the Pewano Team and test their new car. Not only were they extremely surprised by the professional outfit and the quality of workmanship, but the performance of the Volvo based Pewano XC60 RR them by surprise.

"This car is just amazing; I did not expect anything like this; I am very happy and fortunate that we can launch and race the new car in the Dakar," said a very happy Alfie Cox on his return, over the weekend.

Cox explained: "The Pewano XC60 exceeded my expectations for a new vehicle to take on the might of the Dakar both in terrain and against competitors. The test in Sweden this past weekend was an unbelievable experience. Much thought, research and design has gone into the construction, suspension, cockpit design and ergonomics this is a package worthy of a podium finish. The torque of the 5 cylinder diesel engine is awesome as is the latest technology in the suspension setup. I felt completely safe during all the testing whether it was flying in the air over jumps or into corners with a tight apex. I have been involved in two major car teams and for me the engineers and management of Pewano 'have gone the extra mile'. The passion of the Pewano team is contagious and I look forward to working closely with Hans Sonksen and the Pewano Team".

The PEWANO XC60 RR (Volvo XC60 Rally Raid modified) is a custom-built Volvo XC60, specifically developed for Cross Country Rallies and the Dakar Rally. The race car has a Volvo-based design where the carbon fiber shell has been shaped to emulate the original; however the Rally Raid car is 180 mm wider than the regular XC60.

Built on a G-REX Spaceframe chassis with Carbon Fibre Laminate bodywork constructed by TeXtreme on a G-REX A-arms suspension riding on Reiger shocks the car is definitely as sophisticated and high-tech as one could imagine. At 1750mm wide, with a wheelbase of 2900mm the car weighs in at 1750kg, boasting a ride height of 330mm, whilst the stopping ability comes from Brake Discs of 330mm diameter through a set of BBS rims on BF Goodrich tyres. As power-house the XC60 has a five-cylinder Volvo 2400cc Diesel engine providing in excess of 200kW power and a maximum torque of over 700Nm through a SADEV gearbox and a Xtrac differential.

"The reason for originally choosing the XC60 is first of all because it's a Volvo – meaning a Swedish brand. Pewano is a Swedish project so naturally we wanted to work with a Swedish brand. Like Pewano, Volvo also has their headquarters in Gothenburg. We selected the XC60 primarily because of the exterior design. The XC60 is a SUV and with a silhouette well suited for the Cross Country Rallying," explained Sandra Anderson, Marketing Manager of the Pewano Team.

Cox carried on saying: "Like all other racers, our dream is obviously to win the Dakar Rally. However, our first target is to bring the car home and drive over the podium at the finish of the Dakar on 15 January (2012). For the Pewano Team, the new XC60 RR, as well as Jürgen and I, that would be almost as good as winning a Dakar; anything more than that will be exhilarating".

On 21 November, the vehicles competing in the 2012 Dakar Rally are shipped from Europe. The teams will receive their cars, bikes and trucks in Argentina on 27 December 2011. Scrutineering takes place between 29 and 31 December, and the race starts in the Argentinean coastal resort of Mar de Plata on New Year's Day and finishes in Luma, Peru, on 15 January 2012 after a gruelling 14 stages.

The 2012 Dakar Rally will be the 33rd running of the event. We will bring you all the excitement, the courage and the daily news on the Pewano XC60 RR.