Volvo has released additional details about the plug-in hybrid system that will power the 2016 Volvo XC90 SUV.
Volvo has released additional details about the plug-in hybrid system that will power the 2016 Volvo XC90 SUV. Volvo says that the XC90 T8 will deliver “all the performance of a luxury SUV, but with emission levels that even small hybrid cars struggle to match.”
The XC90 T8 will be powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder Drive-E engine and an electric motor that generates a combined 400 horsepower 472 lb-ft. of torque. The four-cylinder engine is both supercharged and turbocharged giving it 318 horsepower, while the electric motor powers the rear wheels. The XC90 T8 can reach 62 mph in 5.9 seconds and is rated at 59 MPGe.
Related: 2016 Volvo XC90 R-Design Unveiled
The XC90 T8 will have five different driving modes: Hybrid, Pure electric, Power mode, AWD and Save.
Hybrid: This is the default mode. Here, the vehicle will automatically alternate between drawing power from the 2-liter, 4-cylinder Drive-E engine and the electric motor to deliver the best overall fuel consumption.
Pure electric: In this mode, when the high-voltage battery is fully charged, it serves as the car’s sole energy source, powering the electric motor over the rear axle. The XC90 T8 has a range of more than 25 miles using just electricity. If more power is needed, the Drive-E combustion engine starts up automatically.
Power mode: Here, drivers get the combined performance of the combustion engine and the electric motor. On start-up, the SUV takes advantage of the electric motor’s superior response and instant torque curve, while the combustion engine gets up to speed. This combination offers better torque at lower revs, equivalent to that of a large displacement engine like the V8.
AWD: This mode offers constant all-wheel drive on demand.
Save: If the battery is charged, this mode allows the driver to “freeze” the battery level and save it for later use with Pure Electric drive. On the other hand, if the battery is low, the driver can use the combustion engine to charge the battery to a certain level for later use with Pure Electric drive.