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After months of teasing and speculation, Volvo has finally unwrapped its all-new Volvo XC90 SUV – one of the most important vehicles in the Swedish marque’s lineup.
“This is one of the most important days in our history,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Car Group.
“We are not just launching a car, but re-launching our brand. This day marks a new era for our company. The XC90 paves the way for a portfolio of exciting new cars to come in the following years.”
It is part of a US$11bn investment programme which yields the XC90’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) and a new range of technologies.
The XC90 will be the first car to carry the company’s new more prominent iron mark, which has the iconic arrow elegantly aligned with the diagonal slash across the grille. Together with the T-shaped “Thor’s Hammer” DRL, the iron mark introduces a new corporate face that will find its way into future models.
While obviously an evolution of the first-generation XC90, the new model adds more visual muscle from the sides. Its beltline and sharpened shoulders that connect with the tattoo-like new rear lights will also eventually be applied across the range.
“The overall impression, both exterior and interior, has a strong connection to the key elements of the Swedish lifestyle: the generous space, the celebration of light and the focus on wellbeing,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design of Volvo Car Group.
According to Volvo, the all-new XC90 is the first SUV without compromises. It is said to combine luxury, space, versatility, efficiency and safety that brings the car to the front of the pack.
“SPA has enabled us to create the world’s first SUV without compromises,” says Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President, Research and Development of Volvo Car Group.
“You get the in-command feel, generous interior space and flexible capability combined with the agility and smooth comfort of a much smaller and lower car. The adrenaline rush that is key to true driving pleasure is delivered by powertrains that offer an unrivalled combination of power and clean operation. And since the XC90 carries the Volvo badge, world-class safety is standard.”
The All-New XC90 offers a range of two-litre, four-cylinder Drive-E powertrains. The top of the range XC90 Twin Engine, which combines a two-litre, four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, offers an unrivalled combination of power and clean operation: around 400 (300kW) horsepower with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of around 60g/km (NEDC driving cycle).
There is also a new twin-turbo diesel D5 engine producing 168kW of power and 470Nm of torque. Both come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
As can be expected from a Volvo, the all-new Volvo XC90 offers the most comprehensive and technologically sophisticated standard safety package available in the automotive industry. It includes two world first safety technologies: a run-off road protection package and autobrake at intersection capability.
In a run-off road scenario, the All-New Volvo XC90 detects what is happening and the front safety belts are tightened to keep the occupants in position. To help prevent spine injuries, energy-absorbing functionality between the seat and seat frame cushions the vertical forces that can arise when the car encounters a hard landing on terrain.
It is also the first car in the world that features automatic braking if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car. According to Volvo, this is a common scenario at busy city crossings as well as on highways, where the speed limits are higher.
City Safety becomes the umbrella name for all of Volvo Cars’ autobrake functions, which are standard equipment in the new XC90. It now covers vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in front of the car, day and night.
“The new technologies will take us a significant step closer to our vision that no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by 2020,” says Dr Mertens.
“Our starting point on safety is the same today as it was when the company was created almost 90 years ago: real-life situations. We study data. We crunch numbers. We innovate. The result is one of the safest cars ever made.”
“With the XC90, we take the first step towards self-driving cars. A new function that automatically follows the vehicle ahead in stop-and-go traffic will provide a radically simplified, semi-autonomous driving experience,” said Lex Kerssemakers, Senior Vice President, Product Strategy and Vehicle Line Management of Volvo Car Group.
Inside, there’s a tablet-like touch screen control console, which forms the heart of an all-new in-car control system. The system is virtually button free.
“The new interior is pure and uncluttered, while still radiating the sophisticated confidence and formality that luxury SUV customers expect. The simplicity is perfectly in tune with our Scandinavian design heritage. It opens up generous surfaces and gives us the opportunity to create a modern, luxurious interior architecture,” says Mr Ingenlath.
The All-New XC90 interior combines materials such as soft leather and wood with handcrafted details, including a gear lever made of crystal glass from Orrefors, the famous Swedish glassmaker, and diamond-cut controls for the start/stop button and volume control. Craftsmanship has been in sharp focus during the whole development work.
Volvo also said the their new full-sized SUV is a genuine 7 seater, with the third row seat offering class-leading comfort for two passengers up to 170cm tall.
Music lovers will also be glad to know that the XC90 features a 1,400 Watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system, featuring a Class D amplifier and 19 speakers, including one of the first air-ventilated subwoofers in a car.
There are two major exterior styling themes:
The Urban Luxury package which combines a colour co-ordinated bodykit with polished stainless steel details, such as front deco frames, front and rear skid plates and side scuff plates. It comes with 21-inch exclusive polished wheels.
The Rugged Luxury kit enhances the ruggedness of the XC90 SUV with tech matte black exterior trim, stainless steel skid plates, running boards with illumination and integrated exhaust pipes. This version is supplemented by unique 22-inch wheels.
The Volvo XC90 will launch in Australia in the first half of 2015, with pricing and specifications announced closer to launch.
