Volvo Cars has today unveiled a refreshed version of its best-selling XC90 large SUV, the company’s flagship model, adding a newly developed fuel-saving engine option that marks the next step in the company’s ambitious electrification strategy.
The refreshed XC90 will be equipped with Volvo’s advanced kinetic energy-recovery braking system, which is coupled with its existing internal combustion engines to create a new integrated electrified powertrain, under its new ‘B’ badge.
The new brake-by-wire system interacts with the energy-recovery system and according to Volvo, this new coupling will reduce emission and fuel consumption up to 15 per cent.
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.
The Oncoming Lane Mitigation system first introduced on the XC60 is now also available on the XC90, while the Cross Traffic Alert technology now also offers autobrake.
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.
