AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS - Volvo takes the Best Large SUV for teh second year running with the outstanding XC90.

• Repeat victory for Volvo’s highly acclaimed seven-seat SUV
• Praised for its style, quality, efficiency, space – and, of course, safety
• Available with diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains, priced from £46,850
• Innovative T8 Twin Engine sits in 7% Benefit-in-Kind company car tax band

The Volvo XC90 has been named ‘Best Large SUV’ at the Auto Express New Car Awards – for the second year in a row. The XC90 beat new competition from Audi, Jaguar, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz to claim the award, which was presented at a prestigious ceremony held at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London, on Tuesday 5^th July 2016.

Commenting on the award, Auto Express’s editor-in-chief, Steve Fowler, said: “Last year’s Auto Express Car of the Year wins its category once again, in spite of strong competition. The Volvo XC90 is a fantastic SUV with its combination of style, quality, space and efficiency. It has all the safety kit you’d expect from a Volvo, but also a level of kit that you might not – it’s a seriously advanced car, which keeps it on top of the class.”

The XC90 set a new standard for Volvo cars. Not only was it the first car to use Volvo’s all-new SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform, it heralded a new design direction for the company and set new benchmarks in the class for connectivity, safety and efficiency.

The SPA platform is designed to offer the highest levels of technological sophistication and safety, while being developed from the outset for electrification means that the petrol-electric T8 Twin Engine version retains all the seven-seat versatility and practicality of the petrol and diesel versions, despite also housing the hybrid powertrain’s batteries and electric motor.

Every XC90 is luxuriously equipped as standard, including a nine-inch touch screen control system that provides access to the internet and a range of cloud-based apps, two-zone climate control with Volvo’s ground-breaking CleanZone air-filtration system, LED headlights and a tailgate that you can open simply by waving your foot beneath the bumper.

The amount of safety equipment is equally impressive. As standard, every XC90 comes with Pilot Assist – Volvo’s semi-autonomous drive technology, which takes care of the steering, accelerator and brake inputs to keep the car in its lane up to 80 mph – and fully automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and large-animal detection.

Jon Wakefield, Acting Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, said: “To be awarded the Best Large SUV title at the Auto Express New Car Awards is a huge achievement – but to win it for the second year running is a testament to the XC90’s continuing excellence. The XC90 is a hugely important car for Volvo, both in terms of what it shows we are capable of and where the company is headed, and for the car to win this prestigious award again demonstrates just how exceptional the first of the new generation of Volvo models really is.”

USA - The new generation Polestar Performance Optimisation has been released for the XC90 T8 Twin Engine

The new generation Polestar Performance Optimisation has just been released for the Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine, making the world’s most powerful and cleanest SUV even faster and more inspiring to drive.

The Polestar optimisation increases the performance to 421 hp and 680 Nm* and 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds, all this with unchanged, class-leading consumption of 2.1 l/100 km and 43 km of pure electric range.

The new generation Polestar optimisation does not only optimise the engine performance, but rather the entire drivetrain in five key areas. By improving throttle response, gearshift hold, speed and precision, as well as overall engine performance, the XC90 T8 reaches a new level of driving pleasure.

”Just a week after the introduction of the S90 and V90 optimisation, we move forward by launching our optimisation for the exciting and technically advanced XC90 T8 Twin Engine. This gives customers who want a new level of driving pleasure with their XC90 an easily accessible and attractive performance increase,” said Niels Möller, Chief Operating Officer of Polestar.

One of the main features of the new optimisation is the gear hold function that holds the selected gear during cornering at high lateral g-forces. This prevents unwanted gearshifts mid-corner that can unsettle the balance of the car, providing the driver with improved response and control during active driving.

Reigning four-time Scandinavian Touring Car Championship (STCC) champion and Polestar Cyan Racing driver Thed Björk has been part of the optimisation development.

”It is amazing for me as a racing and development driver to be able to work with the same kind of technology and philosophy for the XC90 as with my S60 race car. While an SUV like the XC90 might be far from what we usually work with, the core of the optimisation is the very same thing. It is about creating driving pleasure and usable performance, something I definitely think we have achieved,” said Thed Björk, who drives a Volvo S60 Polestar TC1 with Drive-E technology in the 2016 FIA World Touring Car Championship.

The Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine is available for the new generation Polestar Performance Optimisation from today**.

All changes as part of the Polestar Performance Optimisation are made with certified emissions, fuel consumption, service intervals and Volvo warranties unchanged.

The All-New Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine: Powered By Gas, Electricity, and Other Vehicles

The All-New Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine: Powered By Gas, Electricity, and Other Vehicles`

Volvo Cars strives to always look beyond, aiming to bring about world-changing advancements through human-centric designs. 

Volvo’s newest project, aims to spark engagement and conversation worldwide about how to innovatively create new paths toward a future that is both cleaner and more powerful.

The unique campaign, hosted in Southern California in late March, proves power truly can come from unexpected places, with the all-new XC90 T8 Twin Engine taking the title as the first plug-in hybrid vehicle to be powered by gas, electricity…and other vehicles. Over the course of two days, Volvo, together with its advertising agency, Grey New York, used a custom peristaltic pump placed over the roadway that, when vehicles drove over it, generated electricity to fuel the nearby charging station – and the XC90 T8 connected to it.

“The all-new Volvo XC90 T8 proves that great power can come from anywhere, from traditional engines to electric motors, and beyond,” said John Militello, Director of Marketing, Volvo Car USA. “Highway Robbery is yet another way we are able to showcase our thinking not just about our cars, but how they can affect the world around them. We’re posing big questions as we seek out new, fresh ways about how and where we can enable the future of driving.” 

As the world’s first plug-in hybrid, seven-seat SUV, and a combination of 400 horsepower and a 53 MPGe EPA rating, the XC90 T8 offers power and efficiency without compromise, all at a starting MSRP of $68,100. 

The North American International Auto Show in Detroit will be the launching platform for the All-New Volvo S90.

The new Volvo S90 is Volvo Cars’ entry ticket to the premium saloon club. The S90 marks a giant step forward for Volvo Cars. The Swedish car maker is better known for its SUVs and estates, but with the launch of the S90, Volvo is clearly intent on shaking up the premium saloon segment with its distinctive executive class saloon.

Equipped with a host of new technologies, ranging from cutting-edge safety to cloud-based apps and services, the S90 is further proof of the Swedish brand’s continuing transformation.

“With the launch of the XC90, we made a clear statement of intent. We are now clearly and firmly in the game. With $11 USD billion of investment over the past five years, we have not only reimagined what Volvo Cars can be – we are now delivering on our promise of a resurgent and relevant Volvo Cars brand,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President & CEO, Volvo Car Group.

The new Volvo S90 comes equipped with an advanced semi-autonomous drive feature, Pilot Assist. The system gives gentle steering inputs to keep the car properly aligned within lane markings up to motorway speeds of around 130 km/h and no longer needs to follow another car. Pilot Assist is another step towards full autonomous drive – a key innovation area for Volvo.

The S90 will also come with a clean and powerful T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain and one of the most luxuriously appointed interiors and connected infotainment systems in the large saloon segment.

“Our idea was to bring something entirely new to this rather conservative segment and deliver a visual expression that exudes leadership and confidence on the exterior. On the inside, we have taken the S90 to the next level, delivering a high-end luxury experience that promises comfort and control,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Car Group.

The S90 also introduces a world-first function to City Safety – large animal detection – a system capable of detecting large animals such as elk, horses or moose, night or day. The technology offers an intuitive warning and brake support to help avoid a collision. The S90 has also benefitted from Volvo Cars’ recent investment in a highly advanced chassis simulator.

“The S90 has taken a big stride forwards in terms of driving dynamics, performance and ride. We have completely redesigned the Volvo driving experience from the ground up to deliver a sense of precision, engaging control and comfort,” said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President, Research & Development at Volvo Car Group.

The S90 is set to be publically unveiled at the NAIAS in Detroit.

DIESEL CAR AWARDS - Volvo takes the best 4x4 category 2015 with the All-New XC90

• Volvo XC90 takes Best 4x4 title in 2015 Diesel Car Magazine awards
• Judges praise car’s design, technology, engineering, refinement and driving dynamics
• Priced from £45,750, all-new XC90 arrives at UK dealers from next month

Swedish style, cutting-edge technology and class-leading refinement have seen the all-new Volvo XC90 beat its rivals to a prestigious UK award. Diesel Car Magazine has named the XC90 as Best 4x4 category winner in its 2015 Car of the Year awards.

Judges praised the Volvo’s engineering, driving dynamics, interior quality, powertrains and design, saying it was “perhaps the most significant new car in the company’s 88-year history.”

Nick Connor, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, said: “The XC90 is a true landmark for Volvo – indeed it represents the dawn of a new era for our brand in this country, so I’m absolutely delighted to receive this award.

“It’s a car we’re really proud of, and which has generated a lot of interest – and over 1,000 customer orders – even before it has officially arrived at UK dealers. It’s a great start to an exciting future for Volvo in the UK.”

Priced from £45,750, the all-new Volvo XC90 is available to order now and is built around a new Volvo designed and built platform and engine architecture that will underpin all next generation Volvo models.

It is available with a 225hp, four-cylinder D5 AWD diesel engine with CO₂ emissions from just 149g/km, returning up to 49.6mpg combined cycle fuel economy. Also available is a 320hp petrol engine option, plus a T8 Twin Engine variant that combines a petrol engine with an electric motor for 49g/km CO₂ emissions and hybrid levels of fuel economy.

Announcing the award win, Ian Robertson, Editor and Publisher of Diesel Car Magazine, said: “The first all-new car to be launched by Volvo using a totally fresh architecture, it’s obvious that no expense has been spared in search of excellence, with the introduction of all-new 2.0-litre powertrains, a fresh scalable platform, the very latest technology, together with a heavy dose of Swedish style for good measure".

“Elevated quality levels, class-leading refinement and economy, and a behind the wheel experience that is driver focussed, all contrive to create a vehicle that is at the pinnacle of the 4x4 class.”