2016 Volvo XC90 looks like a tech powerhouse
Volvo released full photos and some new details today about its 2016 XC90, an important car for the company showcasing its new technology base.
In the 1970s, the boxy 200-series sedans and wagons became the signature Volvo style, but now the XC90 SUV seems set to become Volvo's hallmark. The company released photos and some details of the 2016 model, which marks a new technology base for future Volvo cars.
Volvo was sold by Ford to Chinese automaker Geely in 2010, and the XC90 is the first car to be developed under the new ownership. It uses a new platform that Volvo calls Scalable Product Architecture, designed to accommodate a wide range of vehicle types.
The XC90 is designed as a three-row SUV that can hold seven passengers.
Earlier this year, Volvo released details on the XC90's powerful plug-in hybrid drivetrain, one of the available engine options, and the all-new Sensus connected infotainment system.
Today, Volvo released full exterior photos of the new XC90, showing an SUV with brawny styling. The company went so far as to update its badge, losing the blue accent in favor of a black background in a silver ring. Headlight casings, which look like they hold LED headlamps in photos, include LED parking strips in a design Volvo calls Thor's Hammer.
In Europe, Volvo will offer the XC90 with a variety of gasoline and diesel engines, along with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain it designates T8. The US versions will only come in all-wheel-drive, and with either the T8 drivetrain or a T6 drivetrain, the latter a 2-liter four cylinder with a turbocharger and supercharger.
US versions will also come standard with navigation, a connected system from Nokia. That navigation system will appear with audio and hands-free phone features on Volvo's new Sensus infotainment system -- a large, portrait-style screen in the center dashboard.
Volvo has previously announced the XC90 will come with Apple CarPlay .
Volvo will offer its City Safety feature in the XC90, which automatically brakes to prevent or mitigate low-speed collisions. A new safety feature will automatically brake if the driver misjudges the speed of an oncoming car and attempts to turn in front of it.
Many more details about the car remain to be announced, but Volvo says the 2016 XC90, which will go on sale in summer of 2015 for a base price of around $48,900 in the US. In the UK it's designated the 2015 model, and will go on sale in the spring starting at £45,785. Australian details were not available at time of publication.