Volvo Updates Volvo XC90 with Kinetic Energy Recovery System, Personalized Seating Configuration

Volvo Cars has updated the Volvo XC90 midsize luxury crossover, led by and a newly-developed fuel-saving engine option that marks the next step in the company's ambitious electrification strategy.

For the first time, Volvo is offering an advanced kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) in its vehicles starting with the XC90. The new brake-by-wire system interacts with the energy recovery system and reduces fuel consumption and emissions by recovering kinetic energy under braking.

Coupled with its existing internal combustion engines, the KERS is part of the Swedish carmaker's new integrated electrified powertrain under its new 'B' badge. Volvo claims that its new electrified system offers drivers up to 15 percent fuel savings and emission reductions in real-world driving.

According to Volvo, the new 'B'-badged XC90  cars represents a major step for Volvo Cars towards its electrification ambitions and complements its existing T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid electrified option on the new XC90.

On the outside, the refreshed XC90 offers subtle upgrades such as new wheels, exterior colors, and a modern new grill, among other details. 

On the inside, the award-winning interior design remains in place, but the most noticeable addition is that the XC90 can be ordered with a range of different seating configurations.

From the four-seat Excellence variant to the seven-seat family SUV to the brand-new six-seat configuration, the XC90 is available with any number of seats that best fits people's preferences and lifestyles. New interior materials including a wool blend offer further options for personalization.

In terms of active safety technology, the XC90 now offers drivers help with steering on both the City Safety and the Blind Spot Information System. City Safety with Autobrake is still the only system on the market to recognize pedestrians, cyclists, and large animals.

The Oncoming Lane Mitigation system first introduced on the XC60 is now also available on XC90, while the Cross Traffic Alert technology now also offers autobrake.

All this, together with the safety cage that forms the core of the passive safety technology, makes the XC90 one of the safest cars on the road and underlines Volvo Cars’ unwavering commitment to developing the safest cars possible.

While the XC90 was the first Volvo to offer Apple Carplay integration, it is now also compatible with Android Auto. The Sensus infotainment system has gone through multiple updates in recent years, all of which have been adopted into the XC90. Where available, the Spotify music streaming service is integrated in the XC90.

The 2020 version of the XC90 will go in production in May at the Torslanda plant in Sweden and is now available to order in all Volvo markets around the globe.