| Motors
Volvo introduces twin engine technology in world’s
most powerful and cleanest SUV
The first Volvo designed from the ground up for plug-in/electrification
compatibility, the XC90 T8 delivers all the performance of a luxury SUV,
but with emission levels that even small hybrid cars struggle to match.
hen designing the XC90 T8, Volvo Cars
chose not to compromise on
performance, driving pleasure,
efficiency or even luggage space. By
building on the new modular Scalable
Product Architecture (SPA) platform and
successful Drive-E petrol powertrain,
the company has created a uniquely roomy 7seater SUV that delivers 400hp/640Nm
combined with ultra-low emissions of 59g/km
(TBC).
“The XC90 T8 is a plug-in electric car, hybrid
car and high-performance car rolled into one,”
says Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President
Research and Development of Volvo Car
Group. “The Drive-E engines already offer
highly competitive performance versus the
competition. The T8 takes it further into a
leading position.”
A driving mode for every need
The XC90 T8 can go from 0 to 62mph in 5.9
seconds, delivering all the driving pleasure
customers have come to expect from a Volvo
SUV. But driving pleasure is only a fraction of
what the XC90 T8 offers: the car has five
different driving modes that deliver a range of
performance and efficiency-enhancing
characteristics. Using either a scroll wheel on
the centre console or a touchscreen on the
dashboard, drivers can choose from:
Hybrid: This is the default mode, suitable for
everyday use. Here, the vehicle will
automatically alternate between drawing power
from the 2-litre, 4-cylinder Drive-E engine and
the electric motor to deliver the best overall fuel
consumption.
Pure electric: In this mode, when the highvoltage battery is fully charged, it serves as the
car’s sole energy source, powering the electric
motor over the rear axle. The XC90 T8 has a
range of up to 25 miles using just electricity,
which covers the total distance most people
drive in one day. And thanks to the regenerative
braking system, this mode is super-efficient in
the stop-and-go traffic of city environments. If
more power is needed, the Drive-E combustion
engine starts up automatically.
Power mode: Here, drivers get the combined
performance of the combustion engine and the
electric motor. On start-up, the SUV takes
advantage of the electric motor’s superior
response and instant torque curve, while the
combustion engine gets up to speed. This
combination offers better torque at lower revs,
equivalent to that of a large displacement
engine like the V8.
AWD: This mode offers constant all-wheel
drive on demand. The advantage of being able
to select AWD manually is that the driver can
use it when needed, or choose to save energy
for later.
Save: If the battery is charged, this mode
allows the driver to “freeze” the battery level
and save it for later use with Pure Electric drive.
On the other hand, if