STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Volvo today unveils the all-new ’16 XC90 fullsize CUV, a vehicle CEO Hakan Samuelsson says is the first model from the “new" Volvo.
The XC90 has not been significantly updated since its launch in 2002, a delay Samuelsson attributes to the lack of a suitable platform after Ford sold the Swedish automaker to China-based Zhejiang Geely in 2010.
Arriving in mid-April 2015, the new XC90 rides on a Volvo-developed Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.
“This is one of the most important days in our history. We are not just launching a car, but re-launching our brand,” Samuelsson says. “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.”
The XC90, the first of nine new Volvo models planned by 2019, is powered by a line of innovative 4-cyl. engines, including a top-of-the-line plug-in hybrid, which combines a 2.0L supercharged and turbocharged gasoline engine that is projected to make about 400 hp.
The XC90’s sheetmetal receives a significant makeover from the outgoing version, with a larger hood, more prominent beltline and sharpened shoulders. The most noticeable change is the addition of T-shaped LED headlamps, which the automaker refers to as “Thor’s hammer.”
Volvo’s iconic iron-mark logo also has been changed, with the arrow now aligned with a diagonal slash across the grille.
The interior features plenty of soft leather and wood with handcrafted details, including a gear lever made of crystal from Swedish-glassmaker Orrefors, as well as diamond-cut controls for the start/stop button and volume control.
Most buttons and knobs have been replaced by a large, centrally located tablet-like touchscreen that controls infotainment and other functions. Volvo says the addition of the touchscreen creates an uncluttered appearance in line with traditional Swedish design.
The Swedish automaker has set a medium-term goal of selling 100,000 units annually in the U.S., and the XC90 will play a significant role in reaching that objective, Samuelsson told WardsAuto in an interview earlier this year.
“We need a stronger CUV and the XC90 is a very important step for us,” he said. “We need product rollouts.”
Volvo has a long way to go to meet its sales objective. Last year, U.S. deliveries totaled 61,233, according to WardsAuto data. The last time the automaker eclipsed the 100,000-unit mark was 2007, when it sold 106,213.
Full pricing details have yet to be announced, but Volvo says a well-equipped XC90 T6 AWD model will start at $48,900.
