2007 Volvo XC90: In Detail

Press Release

• New update to flagship of Volvo’s XC ('Cross Country') Range, moving the model further upmarket in the premium SUV segment.

• Two all-new, high-performance petrol engines – a six-cylinder 3.2-litre and Volvo’s first V8 - join the D5 turbo diesel.

• Elegant exterior refinements.

• Flexible and innovative interior upgraded to enhance luxury feel.

• Car-like driveability with AWD (All Wheel Drive) with Instant Traction™ and 218mm of ground clearance.

• S, SE, new SE Sport and SE Lux, plus the Executive trim level available.

• New SE Sport features dynamic chassis settings, stiffer anti-roll bars, firmer shock absorbers and sport tuned speed-dependent steering. Developed on UK roads.

• Innovative safety, including Roll-Over Protection System (ROPS), Roll Stability Control (RSC), BLIS, WHIPS, SIPS, IC, DSTC, EBD etc.

• Fully crash-tested at the Volvo Safety Centre – including compatibility with smaller cars.

• Higher standard specifications than rival SUVs from other premium brands.

• High Performance and Dynaudio Premium Sound audio systems with Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound™ and MP3/WMA compatibility.

• Only 88mm longer than a Volvo V70 estate.

• Oeko-tex standard compliant, emissions-free interior.

Volvo revolutionised the SUV market when the XC90 went on sale in 2003. With its innovative and versatile interior with 64 seating configurations, car-like driving characteristics and AWD ability, it was an instant success and quickly became Volvo’s best-selling model globally (85,994 sold in 2005). Now, to enhance its appeal still further, Volvo has introduced a new XC90, with increased refinement, desirability and performance.

The refined, more elegant Volvo XC90exterior sets a new tone from the 2007 model year, which has moved further upmarket in the premium SUV sector. The interior continues the theme, with new materials and upholsteries creating a luxurious ambience, whilst retaining the flexibility of up to seven

forward-facing seats. An even higher standard specification includes a High Performance Sound audio system with MP3/WMA compatibility and an auxiliary input to allow i-Pod connection.

Two new high-performance petrol engines join the 185PS D5 turbodiesel: a 4.4-litre V8, developing 315PS and 440Nm of torque, and a 3.2-litre straight-six, developing 238PS and 320Nm of torque. The former is Volvo’s first V8 engine and will extend the appeal of the Volvo XC90 to a new group of customers who are currently driving high-end models from Porsche, Mercedes, BMW and Range Rover.

As you would expect of a Volvo, the new XC90 incorporates a raft of advanced safety features, including a Roll-Over Protection System (ROPS). Produced at Volvo’s Torslanda plant in Sweden, it is available in five trim levels: S, SE, SE Lux and Executive and SE Sport.

Design concept

The elegant exterior of the new Volvo XC90 has been achieved by a number of enhancements. These are most noticeable at the rear where redesigned lights that incorporate two brake lights on each side emphasise the strong curves of the Volvo XC90’s shoulders. There’s also a wide, chrome detailing above the rear number-plate, a full-width rear skid plate and a completely new bumper with more body colouring. Flush-mounted Rear Park Assist sensors are also fitted as standard and optional for the front.

The traditional Volvo V-shaped bonnet incorporates a new grille with a wider chrome surround and more three-dimensional mesh inserts, plus a larger Volvo ‘iron mark’ badge. The new front bumper has a greater degree of colour-coding and a new, extended skid plate built into it. The new Volvo XC90 is also distinguished by new 18in alloy wheels (standard on SE Lux) and colour-coded side mouldings, door handles and wheelarch mouldings (not S model) with black stone protectors. In line with the rest of the Volvo range, the new Volvo XC90 also features larger, body-coloured door mirrors, which now incorporate the side indicator lights.

The muscularity of the Volvo XC90 is matched by rounded corners front and rear, a gently sloping (split) tailgate with integrated spoiler and shorter roof section to promote a smoother, non-aggressive impression and help the vehicle to look more compact and desirable.

The Volvo XC90’s ‘cockpit forward design’ possible thanks to space-saving transversely mounted engines, enables the passenger compartment to be as far forward as possible with a more steeply raked windscreen than in most other SUVs. This has allowed Volvo to make a seven-seat SUV yet still within modest overall body dimensions: the new Volvo XC90 is 4.8 metres long, just 88mm longer than a Volvo V70.

The Volvo XC90’s tailgate is gently sloping rather than vertical to clearly state that this is not a regular Volvo estate car. The resulting shorter roofline also helps the vehicle appear smaller and gives it a modern, sporty stance.

For added convenience, the tailgate is split so the lower section can be used as a seat for two adults or table yet is still low enough to load bags without the need to open it; it is strong enough to be stood upon when loading items onto the roof, and the upper section is not too large, heavy or high when opened.

Five trim levels are offered for the new Volvo XC90 – S, SE, the new SE Sport and SE Lux, plus the range-topping Executive. For customers wishing to personalise their Volvo XC90, there are some specific options which may be of interest, such as dark-tinted rear windows, Active Bi-Xenon headlights (standard on Executive), aluminium running boards and roof protection ribs (seven rubber ribs mounted lengthwise on the roof).

Driving dynamics: Engines

Two new high-performance petrol engines – Volvo’s very first V8 and a 3.2-litre six-cylinder – join the 185PS D5 turbodiesel to comprise the engine range of the new Volvo XC90.

V8
Volvo’s first V8 engine offers 315PS and 440Nm of torque – enough to provide the new Volvo XC90 with stirring performance, as well as a rousing V8 ‘burble’. The V8 Volvo XC90, which has as standard Volvo’s six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission, sprints from 0-60mph in just 6.9 seconds and has a restricted top speed of 130mph.

The V8 engine is extremely refined with compact dimensions to enable it to be fitted transversely in the new Volvo XC90 – like all Volvos – to help maintain good front crumple zones and leave more space for the passenger compartment. It is also one of the cleanest V8 engines on the market and meets the strict American ULEV II (Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle, stage II) standard. A 60 degree V-angle means the V8 engine is unusually compact, and able to be installed transversely.

3.2
The new 3.2-litre engine develops 238PS and 320Nm of torque, which translates into a 0-60mph time of 8.9 seconds and a restricted top speed of 130mph. It also comes as standard with Volvo’s six-speed Geartronic transmission. The new 3.2-litre engine is mostly made of aluminium with an efficient design that is as compact than Volvo’s five-cylinder engines, and it combines its high performance with good fuel economy – 23.9mpg on the official combined cycle. CPS (cam profile switching) improves performance and efficiency.

D5
Volvo’s D5 turbodiesel, which develops 185PS and 400Nm of torque, offers both strong mid-range urge and refinement. It is fitted with a diesel particulate filter as standard, a six-speed manual transmission or (optionally) Volvo’s six-speed Geartronic, plus the latest common-rail direct-injection technology. The manual Volvo XC90 D5 gets from 0-60mph in 10.3 seconds and has a top speed of 121mph, whilst achieving an average of 34.0mpg on the combined cycle.

Driving dynamics: Chassis

The new Volvo XC90 is designed for all types of roads, irrespective of the surface beneath the tyres or the weather conditions. Even though it was never designed to be a serious off-roader, the Volvo XC90 has the versatile combination of All Wheel Drive (AWD) with Instant Traction™ and a generous 218mm of ground clearance for when the going gets tough. Despite its AWD capability, however, it remains as easy, responsive and rewarding to drive as any regular Volvo saloon or estate model.

Volvo’s sophisticated AWD with Instant Traction™ is electronically controlled by a pre-charged Haldex coupling. It operates independently of driver input, distributing torque automatically between the front and rear wheels for the best possible grip in all conditions.

The new XC90 further benefits from Volvo’s TRACS anti-spin system and Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC). TRACS prevents wheel spin by transferring power across the axle if it detects a wheel is losing grip on one side.

A high seating position gives the Volvo XC90 driver a feeling of safety and greater awareness of the road ahead, with the knowledge that he or she can control the car with the help of instant, well-weighted response from the chassis, engine and brakes.

The chassis in the new Volvo XC90 is designed to give the vehicle the same ride and roadholding characteristics as a passenger car. The suspension is more substantial, however, to handle heavier loads, as well as the higher ground clearance and all-terrain possibilities.
 
The rear multi-link suspension is well isolated, with the dampers and springs attached directly to the subframe. This results in a quieter ride as road and transmission noise is largely filtered out before it reaches the bodywork.  Load compensating rear suspension is also standard.

A wide track (1634mm front, 1624mm rear) and a long wheelbase (2857mm between the front and rear axles) make for exceptional stability, so the new Volvo XC90 behaves consistently and dependably, even on curving, twisting and uneven roads.

The XC90 SE Sport model introduced for the new 2007 models features dynamic chassis settings, stiffer anti-roll bars, firmer shock absorbers and sport tuned speed-dependent steering. The chassis settings for the new Volvo XC90 SE Sport have been refined and specifically developed on UK roads to increase genuine driving pleasure. The shock absorbers have stiffer rebound rates and the anti-roll bars are stiffer (front +0.5mm; rear +1.0mm) to offer a high level of stability when cornering. The speed dependent steering has also been adapted to offer a quicker steering response. Furthermore, Volvo’s self-levelling system, Nivomat, has been fine-tuned to offer great stability and driving control.