After being on the market for more than a decade, Volvo has finally unveiled its new XC90 SUV.
The company has released a few teaser images over the past months and even allowed selected media to see the car up close a while ago. However, today the wraps came off and the SUV was revealed, a car that is showing the way ahead for Volvo in terms of design and technology.
One of the most important facts about the XC90 is its chassis. It is the first time Volvo will implement its new scalable product architecture (SPA). As the name implies, this platform can be adopted for different size cars and drivetrains. The result is that the structure is both lighter and stronger than that of the old XC90. Volvo also boldly claims that passengers of up to 1,71 metres will be able to sit comfortably in the third row of seats.
Engines
Powering the new XC90 will be a range of turbopetrol and turbodiesel derivatives. Forming part of the Drive-E range, all engines will conform to the current 2,0-litre, four-cylinder strategy, albeit in different states of tune.
The range will consist, among other engines, of the 239 kW/400 N.m T6 petrol engine which will be both turbo- and supercharged. The D5 biturbo-diesel engine develops 168 kW and 470 N.m. Both engines are connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
As previously reported, the plug-in hybrid will be the top-of-the-range model. The combined output of the 2,0-litre petrol engine and electric motor will be 298 kW. According to Volvo, this SUV will be the most powerful one on the market for a vehicle with a claimed 60 g/km of CO2 emissions.
It seems all-wheel-drive versions of the XC90 will be launched first, followed by front-wheel-drive derivatives later on.
New safety technologies
Two new safety technologies which will be fitted to the Volvo XC90 include a run-off road-protection package. If the car detects that it has left the road, the seatbelts will tighten and energy-absorbing technology in the seats will help to maximise safety for the passengers.
Next up is an auto-braking system. This system will brake the car automatically in case of the driver pulling out into oncoming traffic.
Launch and local introduction
As part of its launch campaign, Volvo will release 1 927 First Edition models which can be ordered online from 3 September. These cars will cost approximately R1 050 000 and will come standard with basically every available option. All the cars will be offered in Onyx Black and will come fitted with 21-inch alloy wheels. This won’t be the largest available wheelsize though; customers of the standard models will be able to spec wheels of up to 22 inches in size.
The XC90 will be shown at October’s Paris Motor Show, followed by an international media drive in March 2015. However, local introduction will only be August 2015.
As expected, Volvo can’t confirm the pricing this long before the local introduction, however, the company aims to offer the new XC90 with a starting price of below R800 000. The T8 Plug-in-Hybrid model will also form part of the local line-up. Expect both all-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive derivatives to be launched simultaneously in South Africa.