All-new Volvo XC90 finally unveiled
Some of our readers might have seen our previous article on the Volvo XC90 as the all-new Volvo XC90 has, over the past few months, gradually been revealed from the inside out. Today we finally get to see the end result – something long awaited by most Volvo enthusiasts.
The original Volvo XC90 was launched in 2002, and it revolutionised the SUV segment with its combination of space, versatility and safety. It went on to become a global sales phenomenon. The all-new Volvo XC90 will, once again, revolutionise the SUV segment and will set the benchmark for what should be expected from a technologically advanced luxury SUV.
“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 all-new Volvo XC90 carries the Volvo badge, world-class safety is standard.”
The all-new Volvo XC90’s interior combines materials such as soft leather and wood with handcrafted details including a gear-lever made of crystal glass. The most striking feature of the car’s interior might be the tablet-like touch screen control console, which forms the heart of an all-new in-car control system. “This system is virtually button free and represents an entirely new way for drivers to control their car and access a range of Internet-based products and services,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design of Volvo Cars. The designers and engineers behind Volvo’s all-new XC90 have completely re-conceived the way drivers operate their cars by dispensing with the normal array of buttons and replacing them with a large tablet-like touch screen, a head-up display and thumb controls on the steering wheel.
Volvo’s new interface, part of ‘Sensus’, incorporates the latest touch screen hardware and software to allow drivers to build an instinctive understanding of how the system works, where the controls are located and how to operate them. The all-new Volvo XC90 also offers drivers one of the top audio systems available in the automotive world after engineers at the Swedish car company joined forces with their counterparts at the renowned British audio equipment company Bowers & Wilkins.
The new Volvo XC90 is especially known for its safety features including a few ”world-firsts”. Volvo named it ”the safest SUV” on the market at the moment. The car offers a world-first road departure protection and developed Safe Positioning to address these situations. Volvo’s Safe Positioning capability means that in a run-off or road departure scenario, the all-new Volvo XC90 detects what is happening and the front safety belts are tightened to keep the occupants in position. The belts are firmly tightened as long as the car is in motion. To help prevent spinal injuries, energy-absorbing functionality between the seat and seat frame minimises the vertical force on occupants if the car encounters a hard landing during an accident. This system is capable of reducing the vertical occupant forces by a third, and thereby drastically reducing the risk of spinal injuries.
The XC90 also offers a world-first auto brake system. The all-new Volvo XC90 is the first car in the world with technology that features automatic braking if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car. This is a common scenario at busy city crossings as well as on highways, where the speed limits are higher. The all-new Volvo XC90 detects a potential crash and brakes automatically in order to avoid a collision or mitigate the consequences of a crash.
The all-new Volvo XC90 offers a range of two-litre, four-cylinder Drive-E powertrains, all of which provide a combination of performance and fuel-efficiency. The top of the range XC90 T8 Twin Engine, which combines a two-litre, four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, offers around 295kW with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of around 60 g/km.
All-New Volvo XC90 Range: Full range details and pricing will be available closer to the local launch, but the pricing is expected to start at just under R800 000.