New Volvo XC90 release date, price & rumours

The new Volvo XC90 release date isn’t until 2015, but here are some news gathered from different reliable sources. 

The new Volvo XC90 will feature three new safety technologies which form part of Volvo's commitment that no one will be killed or seriously injured in its cars by 2020.

The first is a system that monitors and steers away from road edges and barriers. The second is one that spots pedestrians in the dark the third is one that can follow traffic autonomously.

The all-new XC90 is expected to be previewed by a concept car at the Paris Motor Show in 2014, before the production car is unveiled later that year.

2014 and will debut an innovative new technology for all its diesel engines.

Called ‘i-ART’ this system replaces the fuel pressure sensor in the common rail with a small computer fitted to each cylinder which controls fuel injection and monitors exactly how much is needed for each combustion cycle.

The extra precision this offers means this new range of four-cylinder engines will be much more efficient than before but the technology also boosts power as well and the new Volvo XC90 will also use an eight-speed auto for the first time.

Derek Crabb, Vice President of Powertrain engineering at Volvo was reported as saying that this “was the second step in the diesel revolution” and it would also make the current range of six and eight-cylinder diesels “look like dinosaurs”.

Volvo’s Senior Vice President of Research and Development, Peter Mertens, told Auto Express, “The new car will be only slightly bigger on the outside, but with more space inside. The look will be a development of the latest Volvo designs, but won’t draw too much from the Concept You car (shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011).”

Mertens also confirmed that the XC90 will shed around 150kg compared to the previous model, with savings made from the use of four-cylinder engines and the new Scalable Platform Architecture. There will be no V6 or V8 models offered.

SPA uses lightweight high strength materials such as boron steel – a material pioneered by Volvo. The platform can be stretched length-ways or width-ways, meaning long wheelbase cars will be easier to engineer, although it’s unlikely we’ll see a stretched XC90.

The XC90 will also feature the very latest safety technology including the pedestrian airbag from the V40, plus city safety braking, which will automatically stop the car from speeds up to 31mph and can also include pedestrian detection.

Active high beam headlights will also be fitted, detecting oncoming cars or vehicles ahead and deaden an area of light so as not to blind drivers, while keeping the main beam on.

Release date and price

The new XC90 could debut in concept form at next year but expect to see the production version at the Detroit Motor show in 2015, just as its predecessor did in 2002. However, we wouldn’t expect UK sales to begin until the spring that year, with prices starting well above today’s model, closing in on about QR 240,000.

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