2015 New York Auto Show: Next generation Volvo XC90 unveiled

The next generation Volvo XC90 has been unveiled for the American market. Now in its third generation, the XC90 is the Swedish automaker’s flagship SUV and the first vehicle to reveal the new design language which will be seen on future Volvo models. It is also the first vehicle to be underpinned by their new Scalable Architecture Platform.

On the external front, the 2016 XC90 gets a new fascia in the form of a large grille and a more modern version of Volvo’s famous vertical logo. The hammer-shaped headlights stretch from the grille all the way to the top of the flared wheel arches while the hood has overt creases giving it a two-level design. The front bumper gets a grid design and an overlapping chrome laced horizontal bar.

The side profile brings out some of the familiar Volvo (ness) but now the roofline appears lower and works well with the flared wheel arches as well as the big wheels in giving the XC90 a sporty stance. The rear too shows the heritage thanks to the vertical tail lamp cluster, roof lip spoiler and subtle creases in the boot lid. The rear bumper too is chrome laced and depending on the model comes with one or two exhaust pipes.

The cabin is a modern but minimal affair. Volvo appears to have got rid of a lot of the buttons and has replaced most of the cabin controls with a large touchscreen infotainment system. The whole cabin can be trimmed out in a variety of materials while the dashboard itself is made up of a combination of grey and chrome plastics.
In terms of engines, there are two diesels and three petrol motors which produce outputs ranging from 160bhp to 400bhp for the top spec T8 plug-in hybrid model which can run up to 25km on pure electric power.
Volvo has also showcased the XC90-R design which is basically a sportier version of the standard vehicle. It gets a beefier external design as well as a sportier cabin with some race oriented features. There is no word on the engine lineup but we believe that the top spec standard petrol as well as 400bhp T8 plug-n hybrid will be offered with this model. While the US market will get the car in May, its arrival in India has been confirmed for September.