Volvo confirms super-luxury XC90 in development

Volvo will build a super-luxury version of the new XC90 for the Chinese market, sources have revealed.

The new model will be a strict four-seater and the middle row and third row of seats will be removed. Instead, a pair of XC90 front seats will be mounted in the back of the car. 

The two rear seats will have the same luxury functions as the front seats, including a full range of electric adjustment, extendable squabs, adjustable seat-back width and a massage function.

Volvo sources say the two rear seats will be set further back than the XC90’s middle bench seat, giving passengers in the rear “exceptional” legroom. There’s no news yet on when the vehicle will be shown, but it is likely to surface later this year.

The new XC90 as a whole will be positioned further upmarket when it reaches the UK next year. Three powertrains and three trim levels will be offered. The core model is expected to be the 245bhp all-wheel-drive D5 in SE trim, at £45,785.

Volvo has not released any more pricing details, although the high-end First Edition XC90 – of which just 1927 will be made – is on sale now through the Volvo website, at £68,000.

UK cars will get sat-nav and seven seats as standard on all trim levels, as well as keyless entry and a powered tailgate. 

Although Volvo’s sales target is hardly more than the average 4700 annual UK sales over the lifetime of the outgoing model, the average transaction price for the new XC90 is expected to be much higher, something that it says it can justify with the technical leap of the new car. 

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