Volvo Cars debuts the new 2015 Volvo XC90
Volvo Cars has officially unveiled the eagerly expected 2015 Volvo XC90 after months of speculation. As promised before the new SUV delivers world leading safety features, new powertrain technologies, power and fuel efficiency, and a superior interior finish – all wrapped in a visually striking design.
"This is one of the most important days in our history. 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," said Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Car Group.
The new 2015 Volvo XC90 is the result of a USD 11-billion investment program and is the first vehicle in a new chapter of Volvo's history that includes a future design direction, a range of new technologies and the all new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) technology.
The T-shaped "Thor's Hammer" DRL lights will be the first thing that will impress you when you see the new 2015 Volvo XC90. The new vehicle is also the first Volvo to come with the company's new and more prominent iron mark, which has the iconic arrow elegantly aligned with the diagonal slash across the grille. The XC90's larger bonnet with its new topography, the beltline and the sharpened shoulders connecting with the distinctive new rear lights are other important design signatures that will be mirrored across the range. In addition to that the new 2015 Volvo XC90 will sport wheel sizes of up to 22 inches.
"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.
"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 2015 Volvo XC90 comes with a number of comprehensive and technologically sophisticated safety technologies including two world first safety features – a run-off road protection package and an auto brake 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 in the terrain. The 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. Finally you get the so called City Safety feature that includes auto brake functions that are standard on the all-new XC90. It covers vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in front of the car during daytime and at 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."
The new Volvo XC90 is very luxurious on the inside too. The vehicle features a 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. It also helps create an interior that is modern, spacious and uncluttered. The interior is made of soft leather and wood with handcrafted details, including a gear lever that is made of crystal glass from Orrefors – the famous Swedish glassmaker – and diamond-cut controls for the Start/Stop button and volume control. The genuine seven seater features new, innovatively designed seats that also free up interior space for passengers both in the second and third seat rows. The third row offers class-leading comfort for two passengers up to 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) tall. Music fans are covered too – the XC90 now comes with one of the top audio systems available in the automotive world thanks to efforts by both Volvo Cars and the British audio equipment company Bowers & Wilkins. The top-of-the-line system in the XC90 features a 1,400-watt Class D amplifier and 19 Bowers & Wilkins speakers. It also includes one of the first air-ventilated subwoofers in a car. Integrated into the car body, it turns the whole interior space into a giant subwoofer. The latest sound processing software has ben used to manage the timing of the sound and co-ordination of the speakers. This brings the emotional experience of a world-class live performance into the car.
Two main accessory themes also add taste to the all-new 2015 Volvo XC90. The vehicle offers a choice between the Urban Luxury package and the Rugged Luxury kit. The former combines a color co-ordinated body kit with polished stainless steel details, such as front deco frames, front and rear skid plates and side scuff plates while the latter 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. The Urban Luxury package also arrives with 21-inch exclusive polished wheels, while the Rugged Luxury kit has unique 22-inch wheels.
The 2015 Volvo XC90 is powered by a range of 2-liter, four cylinder Drive-E engines that provide both power and fuel efficiency. The most powerful engine of them all is the XC90 Twin Engine that combines a 2-liter, four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor for total power output of 400 horsepower (294 kW) and carbon dioxide emissions of just around 60 g/km.
Fans of the XC90 will be able to order the new vehicle in October with customer deliveries starting in May 2015. Expect to pay around GBP 45,000 for one 2015 Volvo XC90.
Source: Volvo
