The Refreshed Volvo XC90 is coming to South Africa

The 2022 Volvo XC90 is en route to South Africa and the big news is the incorporation of new mild-hybrid petrol engines, which will offer XC90 drivers a more fuel-efficient and smoother driving experience. The current XC90 T5 will be replaced by the new XC90 B5 while the current XC90 T6 will be replaced by the new XC90 B6. The two new models will be joined by the XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid. The two newcomers feature mild-hybrid petrol engines with a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) that recovers brake energy to charge a 48V battery. An integrated starter generator uses this energy to support the combustion engine.

According to Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director at Volvo Car South Africa, there are many benefits to the new engines. “Emissions are reduced and fuel economy is improved. Furthermore, thanks to the 48-volt battery, the vehicle’s performance during start-up and take-off are exemplary. From a practical point of view, there are no cables; the vehicle does not need to be charged at an electrical socket,”.

The new XC90 will feature an updated eight-speed Geartronic gearbox with shift-by-wire as well as a new stop/start system. The former affords drivers a far more enjoyable driving experience; shift-by-wire technology allows drivers to control the transmission electrically (a luxurious touch is the new gearshift produced from handmade Swedish crystal). The latter is a vastly improved system, which ensures that the switching off and on functions are barely discernible. The system also responds much faster.