The all-new Volvo XC90 will be offered with a range of two diesel and one petrol engine when it goes on sale later this year, following a public debut at the Paris motor show in October.
All of the new XC90's engines come from the Swedish firm's Drive-E engine family. Headlining the range will be a T8-badged petrol-electric hybrid model, featuring a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged unit in conjunction with a 79bhp electric motor which is used to drive the rear wheels.
The sequentially-charged engine - where the supercharger acts low-down in the rev range and the turbocharger boosts top-end output - has a combined power figure of 395bhp and 472lb ft of torque. Its headline CO2 emissions of just 60g/km has lead Volvo to claim that "there has never been an SUV offering this level of power this cleanly".
The hybrid XC90 will be able to travel for up to 25 miles on electric power alone. Volvo says space inside the car isn't compromised by the addition of a large battery pack, as the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform on which the car sits was designed from the start to include hybrid technology. The XC90 is the first Volvo to be based on the new platform.
Also joining the T8 at launch in the UK will be D5 and D4 diesel units. The D5 is a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine with 222bhp and 347lb ft of torque, and is capable of around 47mpg. The D4, meanwhile, is a conventional turbodiesel with 187bhp and 295lb ft of torque, with fuel consumption sitting at around 56.5mpg.
Both diesel options also come with a new i-ART injection system, which can deliver precise amounts of fuel to each cylinder as required. Previously, the XC90 has only been available with an older D5 powerplant.
The new model is some 100mm longer than the current car, measuring 4.9m, with the extra interior space offering better legroom for second and third-row passengers. The interior styling of the car has already been revealed, showing a luxurious cabin dominated by a 9.5-inch central touchcreen, through which most infotainment and vehicle functions are controlled.
Volvo officials have confirmed that the initial range of engines will be expanded after the car's launch, with likely additions including an all-electric version and models featuring a frugal energy-harvesting flywheel.
Read Autocar's first ride in the new Volvo XC90 prototype.
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Well I will be looking at
Reliability?!!
The reason why Toyota is the only one to do decent hybrid sales volumes is because its the only company thats been making reliable hybrids. They are all dull but at least people don't have to worry about them.
The question to Volvo is now that they are not using the tried and tested Ford platforms can people show faith in such a model, especially if components are being shared with their chinese parent?!
shortbread wrote:The figures
Volvo have pretty decent hybrid sales especially in Holland, the tried and tested Ford platforms (EUCD) where co developed by Volvo, Volvo dont share parts with their Chinese owners, any part fitted on a Volvo will be designed for Volvo, and may be used by Geely, however no parts designed for Geely will be fitted to a Volvo.
Also considering Volvo sales for this year are considerably higher than last year, and have risen by a higher percentage than any other premium brand, I believe buyers are actually showing more faith in Volvo now than under Ford ownership, Volvo did have a very enviable reputation for reliability and engines that where capable of astronomic mileages, if they can get that back, plus add in a new sense of desirability the future is bright, class leading engines, excellent interior build quality, and a new design direction that is judging by the last 3 stunning concepts going to leave the Germans looking a bit silly.
America?
Now I think about it though, why shouldn't petrol prove more popular in Europe if you can get this kind of power, performance and fuel economy in one package? Why bother with noisy, dirty diesel if the petrol is so good?
If the reliability stacks up, then it has to be a winner.
Maybe Europe can fall in love with petrol power again?