Volvo Cars has recently unveiled an updated version of its best-selling XC90 large SUV, the company’s flagship model.
A newly developed fuel-saving engine option will be available in this updated model, which uses an advanced kinetic energy-recovery braking system which works simultaneously with the existing combustion engine to create a new integrated electrified powertrain.
This new electrified powertrain offers drivers up to 15 per cent fuel savings and emission reductions in real-world driving. The new brake-by-wire system interacts with the energy-recovery system and reduces fuel consumption and emissions by recovering kinetic energy under braking.
The introduction of the new XC90 ‘B’-badged cars represents a major step for Volvo Cars towards its electrification ambitions of a fully electrified car range by mid-next decade.
On the outside, the refreshed XC90 offers subtle upgrades to the original award-winning exterior design, such as new wheels, exterior colours and a modern new grille, among other details.
In terms of active safety technology, the XC90 now offers drivers help with steering on both the City Safety and the Blind Spot Information System. City Safety with Autobrake is still the only system on the market to recognise pedestrians, cyclists and large animals. This makes the XC90 one of the safest cars on the road and underlines Volvo Cars’ unwavering commitment to developing the safest cars possible.
While the XC90 was the first Volvo to offer Apple CarPlay integration, it is now also compatible with Android Auto. The Sensus infotainment system has gone through multiple updates in recent years, all of which have been adopted into the XC90. Where available, the Spotify music streaming service is integrated in the XC90.
The model-year 2020 version of the XC90 will go into production in May at the Torslanda plant in Sweden. It will be available to order in the UK in mid-March, with first customer deliveries expected in late Q2 2019.