SECOND-GENERATION VOLVO SUV SET TO REPLACE XC90 ON SALE SINCE 2003
Volvo will be unveiling the next-generation XC90 SUV in Stockholm, Sweden, two weeks from now, and in the run-up to the debut of the all-new SUV flagship the company is giving the world a few previews. In the last few weeks Volvo has disclosed a number of details about the upcoming XC90 which will be replacing a model that has been on sale since 2003 -- an epoch when it comes to SUV product cycles -- though so far we haven't gotten a look at any exterior details aside from a few murky spy photos.
The images shared by Volvo give a hint at the SUV's headlight and grille. While the design of the headlight is unique and modern, with a horizontal LED element leading to a T-like vertical element at the edge of the unit, the vertical bars of the grille are a surprising design cue paying homage to Volvo cars from the 1980s and the 1990s. The very last cars to feature the vertical chrome double-bars were the the NedCar-built Mitsubishi Carisma-based S40 and V40 cars of the late 1990s, as well as the V90 station wagons and S90 sedans of that decade.
The shape of the headlight, dubbed "Thor's Hammer" by Volvo designers, follows designs seen on recent Volvo concept vehicles, including the Concept Estate. That concept featured a horizontal T-shaped LED headlight design that partially wrapped around the front fender, though in the case of the upcoming XC90 there'll be extra room on the very edge for an integrated turn signal. Additional turn signal indicators will be incorporated into the side view mirrors, while the hood will feature curved lines leading to the hood shutlines just above the headlight; a different sculpting than that seen on the Concept Estate and other recent Volvo concept cars.
Volvo has also released detailed photos of the new XC90 interior, and it is immediately apparent that it will be in keeping with the company's minimalist, functional approach to dash designs as seen in recent vehicles such as the XC60 and theV60. Note the near-total absence of buttons around the vertical infotainment screen; Volvo intends to integrate as many interior controls as possible into the infotainment system while transferring other buttons into the horizontal spokes of the steering wheel. The use of wood paneling on the completely redesigned console/transmission tunnel adds a touch of luxury.
The upcoming XC90 SUV will sit on Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) which has been in development for the last four years and will eventually underpin a large part of the product range. According to Volvo, SPA will allow greater flexibility when it comes to designing and engineering future vehicles, which is especially important for a relatively small automaker with a need to offer many different vehicles in several segments.
“SPA and the XC90 are firm evidence of our Volvo-by-Volvo strategy. The XC90’s outstanding combination of luxury, space, versatility, efficiency and safety will bring the SUV segment into a new dimension, just as the original XC90 did in 2002,” said Dr. Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President for Research and Development at Volvo Car Group. “SPA gives us a fresh technological start. Around 90 percent of the components in the all-new XC90 and upcoming models are new and unique.”
The XC90 is scheduled to be revealed at the end of this month, and will make its first official appearance at the 2014 Paris Motor Show in October. It's expected to go on sale in North America in the spring of 2015 as a 2015 model.
Pricing has not been announced for the new SUV flagship, though Volvo is expected to make a number of statements regarding that and other details during the Paris Motor Show; we'll be there to bring you all the latest.
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