Automobile Desk: Luxury vehicle manufacturer Volvo has introduced the updated plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants of its two most popular premium SUVs in the global market – XC60 and XC90. This time the company has made major changes in the battery setup of both the vehicles, due to which these SUVs are now capable of covering long distances without spending a single drop of petrol. For drivers whose daily commute remains within the city, these cars will function as a fully electric vehicle without starting the petrol engine.
Under this update, the company has upgraded the battery pack which directly affects the power performance and range of the vehicles. Whereas earlier both these hybrid models had a battery with a capacity of 19kWh, now a larger battery pack of 41.2kWh capacity has been included in it. Of this, approximately 37.9kWh of battery capacity is directly used for power delivery. There has been a huge jump in their all-electric driving range due to the battery capacity more than doubling.
If we look at the range figures, the updated Volvo XC60 PHEV can now cover a distance of about 200 kilometers on the basis of electric motor alone. Earlier, its hybrid model used to give an electric range of about 79 kilometers, which means it has directly increased by 121 kilometers. On the other hand, the pure electric range of the 7-seater luxury SUV Volvo XC90 PHEV has increased from 66 kilometers earlier to 162 kilometers. This range is going to prove to be extremely practical for daily office commute or short inter-city trips.
Talking about mechanicals and power-train, both the SUVs have a 2.0-litre capacity four-cylinder petrol engine, which mainly powers the front-wheels. Along with this, an electric motor has been fitted in the rear, which powers the rear-wheels and provides excellent all-wheel-drive (AWD) grip to the vehicle. In terms of power, the total output of the XC60 PHEV produces a maximum power of 461hp and a torque of 759Nm. The XC90 PHEV also has a power of 461hp and a torque of 751Nm. Talking about speed, the XC60 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds, while the larger XC90 takes 5.2 seconds to reach this speed.
If we look at the scenario of the Indian automotive market, these new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of Volvo are not currently made available for sale in India. In the Indian market, Volvo sells both its XC60 and XC90 models only with a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 48V mild-hybrid technology. This mild-hybrid setup generates 250hp power and 360Nm peak torque. The ex-showroom price of XC60 in India starts at Rs 70.90 lakh, while the starting ex-showroom price of the flagship SUV XC90 has been set at Rs 98.80 lakh.
