After months of teasers, Volvo have finally, quite literally, taken the wraps off the all-new XC90.
The second-generation model debuts 12 years after the original made its appearance, changing the face of practical mobility for the world. There are cars built to accommodate seven, including children, and then there are cars specifically designed for families with children. The first XC90 addressed the needs for active families looking to set out and take on the open road, or trail… The new XC90, builds on everything the older car stood for, and adds cutting-edge, industry-first technology with new safety, communication and entertainment features never before seen to date on any production car.
The exterior features full-LED headlamps and Mjollnir (Thor’s Hammer)-shaped daytime running light-strips, giving it an unmistakeable face. The rear gets tall tail-lamp clusters with a typically distinct Volvo red signature. The proportions are generous and look both inviting and accomodating. It measures 4,950mm long, 2,008mm wide and 1,775mm high, running a 2,984mm wheelbase. The ground clearance in offroad mode is 267mm, with 237mm for the standard chassis. The third row is said to offer best-in-class space for full size adults up to 1.70m tall. The boot, too, appears to be quite large and offers upto 1,899 litres of storage volume. We also expect a power tailgate to be standard kit now.
The biggest changes though are in the interior. The seats are slimmer, the cabin is roomier, the interface is more modern and the materials are a touch above what we’ve seen before. The tablet-like interface on the centre console dominates the look, and, like their 60 line, is driver-centric. The sound system options are a range from Bowers & Wilkins, with the top-of-the-line system boasting a 1400W Class-D amplifier with a 19-speaker surround-sound setup. Air suspension is now an option on the XC90 as well. A new steering wheel also debuts with steering-mounted paddles to control the new 8-speed automatic gearbox. The new gearbox will drive all wheels, or just the front wheels in specific applications.
Four engine choices are on the cards for now, the new Driv-E D4 2.0-litre four-cylinder i-ART direct-injection diesel with 190 PS and 400 Nm, a more powerful D5 version of the same engine with 225 PS and 470 Nm of torque, a T6 turbo-supercharged 2.0-litre petrol with 320 PS and 400 Nm and a T8 Twin-Engine petrol-electric hybrid with the new T6-spec petrol motor paired to an electric motor, to deliver a combined output of near 400 PS and 600 Nm. Like the V60 D6 PHEV, the XC90 T8 TwinEngine will offer ‘Pure’, ‘Hybrid’ and ‘Sport’ drive modes, allowing a clean electric-only drive, hybrid charge or full combined output.
