Full details of new Volvo XC90 plug-in hyrbrid revealed

Full details of new Volvo XC90 plug-in hyrbrid revealed

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Months of speculation have ended after Volvo fully revealed the all-new Volvo XC90, delivering a visually striking, premium seven-seat SUV with advance safety features, new powertrain technologies including a plug-in hybrid engine with CO2 emissions of 60g/Km.

Three years in the making and part of a USD 11bn investment programme, the new XC90 marks the beginning of a new chapter in Volvo’s history, capturing its future design direction, incorporating its own range of new technologies and utilising its new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) technology.

“This is one of the most important days in our history. We are not just launching a car, but re-launching our brand. This day marks a new era for our company. The XC90 paves the way for a portfolio of exciting new cars to come in the following years,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Car Group.

The recommended retail price for the D5 AWD Momentum is £45,000 and will be available to order at Volvo dealerships in October, following the public reveal at the Paris Motor Show. Customer deliveries are expected to start in May 2015.

New face

Symbolising this historic day in Volvo’s 87 year history, the new XC90 will be the first of its cars to carry the company’s new more prominent iron mark, which has the iconic arrow aligned with the diagonal slash across the grille. Together with the T-shaped “Thor’s Hammer” DRL lights, the iron mark introduces an entirely new, distinctive face for Volvo’s forthcoming generation of cars.

xc90 thor hammer headlights

The XC90’s larger bonnet with its new topography, the beltline and the sharpened shoulders connecting with the new rear lights are other important design signatures that will be mirrored across the range.

To add more visual muscle from the sides, the XC90 comes with a range of wheel sizes up to 22 inches.

“The overall impression, both exterior and interior, has a strong connection to the key elements of the Swedish lifestyle: the generous space, the celebration of light and the focus on wellbeing,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design of Volvo Car Group.

Seven seat SUV

The XC90 is evidence of the Volvo-by-Volvo strategy. Its combination of luxury, space, versatility, efficiency and safety will bring the SUV segment into a new dimension, just as the original XC90 achieved in 2002.

volvo-xc90-layout

“SPA has enabled us to create the world’s first SUV without compromises,” says Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President, Research and Development of Volvo Car Group. “You get the in-command feel, generous interior space and flexible capability combined with the agility and smooth comfort of a much smaller and lower car. The adrenaline rush that is key to true driving pleasure is delivered by powertrains that offer an unrivalled combination of power and clean operation. And since the XC90 carries the Volvo badge, world-class safety is standard.”

Combination of power and fuel efficiency

The new XC90 offers a range of two-litre, four-cylinder Drive-E powertrains, all of which provide a combination of performance and fuel-efficiency. Initially the new XC90 will be available as a four-wheel drive with a two-wheel drive alternatives following in September 2015.

At the top of the XC90 range, a new plug-in drivetrain dubbed the Twin Engine combines a two-litre, four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, offering a combination of power and low emissions operation. With CO2 emissions of just 60g/km it is likely to prove popular with company car drivers attracted by the low BIK rate and those looking to avoid the London Congestion Charge.

Safety package

The new XC90 offers a comprehensive and technologically sophisticated standard safety package. It includes two world first safety technologies: a run-off road protection package and auto brake at intersection capability.

In a run-off road scenario, the Volvo XC90 detects what is happening and the front safety belts are tightened to keep the occupants in position. To help prevent spine injuries, energy-absorbing functionality between the seat and seat frame cushions the vertical forces that can arise when the car encounters a hard landing in the terrain

The XC90 is the first car in the world with technology that features automatic braking if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car. This is a common scenario at busy city crossings as well as on highways, where the speed limits are higher.

xc90-safety-features

City Safety becomes the umbrella name for all of Volvo Cars’ auto brake functions, which are standard equipment in the XC90. It now covers vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in front of the car, day and night.

“The new technologies will take us a significant step closer to our vision that no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by 2020,” says Dr Mertens. “Our starting point on safety is the same today as it was when the company was created almost 90 years ago: real-life situations. We study data. We crunch numbers. We innovate. The result is one of the safest cars ever made.”

Three focus areas will help Volvo Cars to reach Vision 2020: safety, connectivity and autonomous drive.

“With the XC90, we take the first step towards self-driving cars. A new function that automatically follows the vehicle ahead in stop-and-go traffic will provide a radically simplified, semi-autonomous driving experience,” said Lex Kerssemakers, Senior Vice President, Product Strategy and Vehicle Line Management of Volvo Car Group.

Interior

The XC90’s interior is designed to have a luxurious look and feel. The most striking feature is a tablet-like touch screen control console, which forms the heart of an in-car control system. This system is virtually button free and represents an entirely new way for drivers to control their car and access a range of Internet-based products and services. It also helps create an interior that is modern, spacious and uncluttered.

“The new interior is pure and uncluttered, while still radiating the sophisticated confidence and formality that luxury SUV customers expect. The simplicity is perfectly in tune with our Scandinavian design heritage. It opens up generous surfaces and gives us the opportunity to create a modern, luxurious interior architecture,” says Mr Ingenlath.

The new XC90 interior combines materials such as soft leather and wood with handcrafted details, including a gear lever made of crystal glass from Orrefors, the famous Swedish glassmaker, and diamond-cut controls for the start/stop button and volume control. Craftsmanship has been in sharp focus during the whole development work.

volvo-xc90-interior

The genuine seven seater features new, innovatively designed seats that also free up interior space for passengers both in the second and third seat rows. The third row offers comfort for two passengers up to 170 cm tall.

Audio system

The XC90 features a quality audio system after Volvo Cars audio experts joined forces with their counterparts at the British audio equipment company Bowers & Wilkins.

The system in the XC90 features a 1,400 Watt Class D amplifier and 19 Bowers & Wilkins speakers. It also includes one of the first air-ventilated subwoofers in a car. Integrated into the car body, it turns the whole interior space into a giant subwoofer.

Two main accessory themes

The XC90 is available with a range of accessories that makes it possible for the owner to create a truly personalised car. There are two major exterior styling themes:

The Urban Luxury package combines a colour co-ordinated body kit with polished stainless steel details, such as front deco frames, front and rear skid plates and side scuff plates. The 21-inch exclusive polished wheels complete the look.

The Rugged Luxury kit enhances the ruggedness of the XC90 SUV with tech matte black exterior trim, stainless steel skid plates, running boards with illumination and integrated exhaust pipes. This version is supplemented by unique 22-inch wheels.

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