The long awaited successor to the critically acclaimed Volvo XC90 is believed to offer drivers up to 400bhp but with CO2 emissions of just around 60g/km.
The new XC90 offers a range of Drive-E engine options, with the main distinguishing feature of having all four-cylinder engines. Yet Volvo claims they do not compromise the driving pleasure associated with a larger power unit.
Drive-E engines will over time be introduced across Volvo's entire range.
Normal driving is conducted in the default hybrid mode. This utilises a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged Drive-E petrol engine that powers the front axle and an 80bhp electric motor driving the rear.
The supercharger fills in the bottom end of the power range to give the engine a big, natural aspirated feel, while the turbocharger kicks in when the airflow builds up. The electric motor on the rear wheels provide immediate torque.
However, the driver can switch to pure electric mobility, with a range of around 40km, and when needed, immediately revert back to hybrid mode with a combined output of around 400bhp and 640Nm of torque.
The Volvo XC90 range also includes the D5 twin turbo diesel engine with 225bhp and 470Nm and best in class fuel consumption of around 20km/L, plus the D4 turbo diesel engine with 190bhp, 400Nm of torque and a fuel consumption of around 23.8km/L.
Volvo also claims its new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) chassis technology allows far more flexibility inside the car, an area, Volvo believes, other carmakers have struggled to combine the bulk of a battery pack with a luxurious and spacious interior.
