Volvo XC90

The 500 units of Volvo's XC90 limited edition sold out within 45 minutes in China on its online sales channel, and the massively produced version is coming to the Chinese market in April.

The new luxury SUV's signature LED daytime-running light was inspired by the Nordic god Thor's hummer. The 7- or 5-seat SUV has a length of 4,950 millimeters with a wheelbase of 2,984 mm.

The standard chassis has a ground clearance of 238 mm. The version with air suspension adjusts the ground clearance from 227 mm to as high as 267 mm in accordance with the driving mode and speed. The car automatically lowers the chassis when the driver and passengers step out.

Volvo Cars Senior Vice-President of Research and Development Peter Mertens said that the 2-ton weight SUV combines the generous interior space, flexible capability and smooth comfort of a much smaller car.

The Drive-E 2-liter gasoline engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission delivers 400 Nm peak torque at 2,200 to 5,400 round-per-minute. The T8 twin-engine edition has another electric motor at the back, which adds 240 Nm and reduces the carbon emission to 59 grams per kilometer.

The plug-in hybrid twin-engine helps the XC90 T8 accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, and cuts its fuel consumption to 2.5 liters per kilometer from the T6 edition's 7.7 liters.

The T8 twin-engine model is equipped with an Orrefors crystal glass gear shifter. Front and all-wheel drive configurations are available. The Bowers and Wilkins' speakers are optional.

(China Daily 03/16/2015 page19)