VOLVO’S XC90 lineup in the Philippines has expanded by way of a freshly released diesel-powered variant.
The new XC90 D4, according to Volvo Philippines, gives the country’s Volvo enthusiasts the “option if they prefer a diesel-powered SUV.” The company noted the car has been “designed for a demanding audience” as it mixes in a luxurious package “ingenious design and intelligent technology.”
Propelling the XC90 is Volvo’s Drive-E power train. This system, applied to a diesel mill in the XC90 D4, uses a pair of turbochargers and direct fuel injection to allow a lightweight, low-friction, four-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine develop power ratings equivalent to those made by six- or eight-cylinder engines — 190 hp and 400 Nm in this case. Helping out in this regard is an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Besides power, Drive-E guarantees fuel efficiency and clean emissions, too, according to Volvo. Citing one technology that forms Drive-E, Volvo said the XC90 D4’s engine has a microchip and a pressure sensor in each cylinder, which “perfectly meters” fuel use. Another benefit of this is that the engine remains in tune even after years of use, the car maker said.
Billed as a premium seven-seat SUV, the XC90 is the first Volvo to have been built atop the brand’s new Scalable Product Architecture, a modular platform that will underpin all new Volvos in the company’s 90 and 60 Series range.
Like the S90 and V90 too, the XC90 is marked by Volvo’s latest design language, along with the classic styling cues of the brand. Key features include what Volvo calls “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights, grille and “Iron Mark” in front, and the spread-out Volvo logo in the rear that’s framed by signature sweeping tail lights.
In the cabin, the XC90 D4 blends wood, crystal and metal to create a sophisticated look, Volvo said. A new seat design boosts the brand’s reputation for making one of the most comfortable and the safest seats in the car industry.
As a new Volvo, the XC90 D4 is equipped with the brand’s Sensus connectivity system that uses a touch screen interface to control car functions, navigation, connected services, and in-car entertainment applications such as Spotify, Pandora, Baidu or TuneIn. Volvo noted this vertical touch screen panel allows for easy and fast access to a host of functions and features.
In terms of safety systems — a Volvo expertise — the XC90 D4 is fitted with City Safety Technology, which combines automatic braking with collision avoidance systems, and is enhanced by Large Animal Detection. An auto-steer function that helps to keep the car on the road, called Run Off Road Mitigation, has also been installed on the XC90.
These systems form part of Volvo’s IntelliSafe, a suite of active and passive safety systems, including those related to autonomous driving. The XC90 already has a semi-autonomous function called Pilot Assist, which works up to 130 kph on clearly marked roads. Volvo said Pilot Assist is another step towards its Vision 2020, in which the car maker aims to have no person killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by the time 2020 rolls by.
