Volvo has their aim set high with the new XC90 SUV which originally flew under the Concept CX Coupe moniker at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. While details were sparse when first announced, Volvo has slowly been releasing details of the SUV’s interior and dimensions, but nothing about the powerplant.. until today.
Putting Volvo’s latest SUV to task will be their new hybrid Drive-E engine with both a supercharger, a turbocharger and a 80 hp electric motor. The incredibly complicated sounding engine has been estimated to crank out 400hp and 472 ft lbs of torque from a production vehicle.
The new all-wheel drive Volvo puts 400 hp and almost 500 ft lbs of torque in the driver’s hands and puts out just 60 g/km of carbon based emissions and CO2). If these numbers are correct, the Volvo XC90 Twin engine Twin Turbo just might be the cleanest and most powerful production engine ever. We’ll give that a few seconds to sink in.
Volvo claims the new XC90 T8 can drive in electric only mode for roughly 18 miles before having to use the gas engine. Previous reports and rumors had put a diesel under the hood of the new Volvo SUV, but the Drive-E engine just may take the cake.
Owners and fans worried about Volvo’s decision to scrap the Yamaha V8 found in the current XC90 can rest assured they won’t be losing much in the way of horsepower or torque. Volvo has taken careful measures to provide a small form factor four cylinder engine that’s capable of performing as well if not significantly better than a larger engine.
Normal driving conditions will put the XC90 in default hybrid mode with a 2.0 liter four cylinder supercharged and turbocharged engine. Volvo’s careful planning and design of the supercharger impellers and turbocharger sizing has blended the perfect forced induction cocktail. The supercharger helps with the low end and midrange grunt that helps simulate a bigger engine and eliminates turbo lag, while the turbocharger gives the engine that extra freeway merging power. And for that immediate torque the electric Drive-E engine will get those rear wheels moving in a hurry.
And Volvo isn’t done with just the power, a whole host of goodies including their new infotainment center promises to keep the XC90 at the forefront. Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Volvo, Peter Mertens confirmed such in recent comments.
“There are no compromises when you drive an all-new XC90, In the past you could either have power or low CO2 emissions. But with the all-new XC90 you can have both.”“With our new Drive-E powertrains, we have created a family of intelligent petrol and diesel engines with power curves that give exciting driveability at the same time as delivering world-beating fuel economy,” added Dr. Mertens. “With seven people in the new XC90, carbon dioxide emissions per person and kilometre are outstandingly low.”
