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Volvo's New XC90 --Clean and Powerful


volvo xc90 (select to view enlarged photo)

GOTEBERG, SWEDEN -- July 8, 2014: Volvo Car’s all-new XC90 will offer an unrivalled combination of power and clean operation when it is launched later this year. The all-wheel drive, seven seater offers drivers up to 400 horsepower but with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of around 60 g/km (NEDC driving cycle). There has never been an SUV offering this level of power this cleanly. “There are no compromises when you drive an all-new XC90,” said Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development of Volvo Car Group. “In the past you could either have power or low CO2 emissions. But with the all new XC90 you can have both.” The new XC90 offers a range of Drive-E engine options, all of which provide an outstanding combination of performance and fuel efficiency. The main distinguishing feature of the Drive-E engine range is that they are all four-cylinder engines.

“With our new Drive-E powertrains, we have created a family of intelligent petrol and diesel engines with power curves that give exciting driveability at the same time as delivering world beating fuel economy, ” added Dr. Mertens. “With seven people in the new XC90, carbon dioxide emissions per person and kilometre are outstandingly low."

Twin Engine technology

Volvo has made it possible for a four-cylinder engine to provide all the driving pleasure associated with a much larger engine and do so far more efficiently and cleanly.

For the all-new XC90, the top of the range ‘Twin Engine’ will carry the badge ‘T8’ and be a plug-in electric car, hybrid car and high-performance car rolled into one.

Normal driving is conducted in the default hybrid mode. This utilises a two-litre, four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged Drive-E petrol engine, which powers the front wheels and an 80hp (60 kW) electric motor driving the rear wheels.

The supercharger fills in the bottom end of the power range to give a big, naturally aspirated feel, while the turbocharger kicks in when the airflow builds up. The electric motor on the rear wheels provides immediate torque.

But at the push of a button the driver can switch to quiet, emission-free city driving on pure electric power. The range will be around 40 kilometres. The driver can also use the combined capacity of the petrol engine and electric motor: around 400hp and 640Nm of torque.

Full range of engine options

The Volvo XC90 range also includes the D5 twin turbo diesel engine with 225 hp, 470 Nm, best in class fuel consumption of around 6l/100 km and the D4 turbo diesel engine with 190hp, 400 Nm and a fuel consumption of around 5l/100 km.

The range also offers two petrol engine options: the T6 turbo engine with supercharger and turbo, 320 hp and a maximum torque of 400 Nm and the T5 with 254 hp and 350 Nm.