Hot on the heels of another two EV’s recently introduced by Volvo Car South Africa – the Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge all-electric and the Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid – this latest update to the XC90 line up signifies a further statement of intent – to be a fully electric car brand by 2030. According to Volvo, local interest in EV’s continues to grow with hybrid vehicles representing a stepping stone to full electric mobility.
A more powerful rear electric motor in the XC90 T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid offers a healthy 107 kW which when combined with 233 kW from the 2,0-litre turbocharged engine results in a whopping 340 kW power output and 709 N.m of torque from the two powertrains. This makes the XC90 T8 Recharge the most powerful XC90 ever. The hybrid SUV’s electric range has been boosted, too, thanks to a new long-range battery which features a third layer of cells, increasing energy capacity from 11.6 kWh to 18.8 kWh. This allows for an electric-only range of up to 77 km.
Volvo Car South Africa Managing Director, Greg Maruszewski said, “The average premium car owner travels less than 50km daily, so most local Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid drivers will be able to do their daily motoring on pure electric power.”
Increased acceleration and fuel efficiency as a result of the hybrid powertrain are added benefits for drivers of larger SUV’s, the seven-seater SUV boasting a 0-100km sprint time of 5,3 seconds yet a combined fuel consumption of just 7,2 litres/100km. Offered in both Inscription and R-Design trim levels, pricing for the Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid starts at R1 560 600. The XC90 T8 Recharge comes with a 5 year/100 000 km Warranty and Maintenance Plan as well as 5 year Roadside Assistance and an 8 year/160 000 km warranty on the lithium-ion battery.
