(L to R) H.E. Mr Bengt G Carlsson, Ambassador of Sweden to Malaysia and Mr Lennart Stegland, MD Volvo Car Malaysia
Volvo Car Malaysia today launched the locally-assembled Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine – the first ever Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) assembled in Malaysia. In addition to that, Malaysia will be the first country outside of Sweden to produce the XC90 T8 Twin Engine, thanks to huge investments made by the company to improve current infrastructure and capabilities of the local plant to handle Volvo’s SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform. This special SUV will also be exported to Thailand, and Volvo is also looking to do the same to other countries in the ASEAN region
With the optional external charger (there is a built-in charger in the XC90)
Benefitting from EEV (energy efficient vehicle) Status accorded by the Malaysian government, the new locally-assembled XC90 T8 Twin Engine will be priced at RM403,888 (recommended retail price, on-the-road, without insurance) with no difference from the original imported model specifications. The XC90 T8 Twin Engine will be available in five exterior colours – Ice White, Onyx Black, Saville Grey, Twilight Bronze and Bright Silver.
The launch of the car was actually held at the Swedish National Day 2016 reception held at the JW Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. It was a glorious day and it was an event attended by a lot of Swedish people and companies here in Malaysia. Lots of wine and dine (which included Meatballs and the proper sauce, salmon and other Swedish food). I also met other familiar faces, the good chaps of Volvo Trucks (different owners these days - like children of divorced parents some say) and the chaps from Scania.
But the XC90 was the star of the show. The launch XC90 was a white coloured one with the charcoal coloured interior. This meant a dark, almost black plastics, trimmings and leather coupled with high quality darker tone grained wood trim. The XC90 was still stunning and there is no actual difference to specification and quality compared to the outgoing Completely Built Unit (CBU) model that was sold over the past few months.
The XC90 is a good thing for Volvo. They had sold all their CBU units in record time and there are already 400 bookings for the CKD variant already. Swedish Motor Assemblies, who assembles most Volvo cars (and trucks at one time), are 50 years old this year and the XC90 assembly line marks a fantastic return to form. As stated earlier, it will be assembling cars for regional export. Something the Malaysian automotive industry actually lacks. And the Swedes are going at it in a big way as they will be also assembling another fantastic large Volvo - the S90 sedan sometime in the near future.
I cannot wait for this good looking sedan to set foot in Malaysia. Of course, we do have this SUV to tickle our fancy for now.
Date of issue
June 1, 2016
Volvo Car Malaysia celebrates its 50th anniversary with the launch of the locally-assembled Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine
The XC90 T8 Twin Engine takes the honour of being the first Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) produced in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR – It has nearly been five decades since the first locally-assembled Volvo 144S rolled-out from Swedish Motor Assemblies. Now called Volvo Car Manufacturing Malaysia, the Shah Alam plant was first established in 1967 and remains the oldest automotive assembly plant still in operation in Malaysia.
In commemoration of its 50th anniversary in Malaysia, Volvo Car Malaysia today launched the locally-assembled Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine – the first ever Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) assembled in Malaysia.
In addition to that, Malaysia will be the first country outside of Sweden to produce the XC90 T8 Twin Engine, thanks to huge investments made by the company to improve current infrastructure and capabilities of the local plant to handle Volvo’s SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform.
“Our recent investment in Malaysia underscores our commitment to the country’s aspiration to become an ASEAN hub for Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEVs), in line with the National Automotive Policy,” said Lennart Stegland, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia.
Volvo’s has outlined a strong electrification strategy by utilising both the SPA and the efficient Drive-E powertrains, in pursuit of more fuel-efficient vehicles that produce less harmful emissions, without sacrificing power.
“The groundwork for electrical propulsion in Volvo was laid with the Volvo C30 Electric and key learnings from that project were then implemented in the SPA platform and the XC90 T8 Twin Engine,” added Stegland.
The locally-assembled XC90 T8 Twin Engine follows the successful launch of the model last year which marked the entry of Volvo’s new generation of cars built on the SPA platform into Malaysia.
To date, the XC90 T8 Twin Engine is the most technologically-advanced model ever developed by Volvo Cars. It features a class-leading plug-in hybrid electric powertrain, several world-first safety innovations, and intelligent driver-assist technologies.
Benefitting from EEV Status accorded by the government, the new locally-assembled XC90 T8 Twin Engine will be priced at RM403,888 (recommended retail price, on-the-road, without insurance) with no omissions from the original specifications.
The XC90 T8 Twin Engine will be available in five exterior colours – Ice White, Onyx Black, Saville Grey, Twilight Bronze and Bright Silver.
DESIGN
Volvo’s new face
The new XC90 is the first Volvo to carry the company’s new more prominent iron mark, which has the iconic arrow elegantly aligned with the diagonal slash across the grille. Together with the T-shaped “Thor’s Hammer” DRL lights, the iron mark introduces an entirely new, distinctive face for Volvo’s forthcoming generation of cars.
The XC90’s larger bonnet with its new topography, the beltline and the sharpened shoulders connecting with the tattoo-like, new rear lights are other important design signatures that will be mirrored across the range.
Luxurious interior
The XC90’s interior is the most luxurious to have been designed for a Volvo. The most striking feature is a tablet-like touch screen control console, which forms the heart of an all-new in-car control system. This system is virtually button free, a simplicity that opens up generous surfaces and gives us the opportunity to create a modern, luxurious interior architecture.
The all-new XC90 interior combines materials such as finest Nappa leather and wood with handcrafted details, including a gear lever made of crystal glass from Orrefors®, the famous Swedish glassmaker, and diamond-cut controls for the start/stop button and volume control.
New seats
Volvo already enjoys a reputation for providing the most comfortable seats in the industry. The new XC90 enhances this reputation by offering innovatively designed seats that also free up interior space for passengers both in the second and third seat rows, helping to make the new XC90 a genuine seven-seater.
The full seat core has an ergonomic shape that resembles the human spine. A multitude of adjustment possibilities makes it possible for the individual user to create an ideal seating position. The new seats are available with seat cushion extensions.
The second row features three individual seats with recline adjustment. The sliding function can be used to create more legroom for the passengers in the third row – or to increase loading space. An integrated child booster cushion in the centre seat is standard.
The seats in the third row offer class-leading comfort for passengers with a height of up to 170 cm.
CHASSIS & POWER TRAINS
Completely new chassis
When it comes to driving dynamics, the XC90 gives the smooth, solid ride of a premium SUV combined with sharp handling and response. There is a completely new chassis, front and rear.
There are a double wishbone front suspension and a new electronically controlled air suspension with a choice of five modes.
Unrivalled combination of power and fuel efficiency
The XC90 T8 Twin Engine is Volvo’s top-of-the-range powertrain which combines a supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, offers an unrivalled combination of power and clean operation: 407 horsepower with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions as low as 49 g/km.
Normal driving is conducted in the default hybrid mode. But at the push of a button the driver can switch to quiet and emission-free city driving on pure electric power where the range will be more than 40 kilometres, and then, when needed, immediately revert back to the combined capacity of the petrol engine and electric motor. Combined maximum torque is 640 Nm, making the XC90 accelerate from 0 to 100 in 5.6 seconds.
SENSUS
Most modern control system on the market
The new Sensus user interface is without doubt the most modern in-car control system on the market. It completely reinvents the way drivers operate their cars.
The traditional selection of buttons and controls has been replaced with a smooth, intuitive interaction between a large tablet-like touch screen, controls on the steering wheel and a capable voice-control system.
The digital instrumentation and the head-up display in front of the driver make sure that the most relevant information is available when needed.
Sensus gives comfortable access to a wide selection of cloud-based applications. The outstanding in-car possibilities includes Internet radio, connected navigation, seamless music streaming, a hot spot for using a tablet in the car – and much more.
Digital craftsmanship
The groundbreaking digital craftsmanship, interaction design, is based on extensive discussions with customers. The layout on the portrait screen can be described as a stack of flexible ‘tiles’, each of them displaying a key functionality.
Information, navigation and media are high up and easy to check. Phone controls, application icons and climate controls are located low, comfortable to reach and touch.
When one of the tiles on the touch screen expands on interaction, the others are compressed but still visible and instantly accessible. This makes the touch screen exceptionally user-friendly, without a need to navigate back to the main menu when switching between functions.
Four-zone climate system
The all-new Volvo XC90 can be specified with a four-zone climate system with individual settings for the occupants in the front seats and in the second row. A separate air-conditioning unit is also available for occupants in the third row.
Volvo Cars’ CleanZone air purification system, one of the most efficient on the market, has been further improved by adding a new carbon filter for more efficient capture of small, harmful particles and pollen in the incoming air.
SAFETY AND SUPPORT
Most comprehensive standard safety package
The all-new XC90 offers the most comprehensive and technologically sophisticated standard safety package available in the automotive industry. It includes two world first safety technologies: a run-off road protection package and auto brake at intersection capability.
In a run-off road scenario, the all-new Volvo XC90 detects what is happening and the front safety belts are tightened to keep the occupants in position. To help prevent spine injuries, energy-absorbing functionality between the seat and seat frame cushions the vertical forces that can arise when the car encounters a hard landing in the terrain.
The XC90 is the first car in the world with technology that features automatic braking if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car. This is a common scenario at busy city crossings as well as on highways, where the speed limits are higher.
City Safety becomes the umbrella name for all of Volvo Cars’ auto brake functions, which are standard equipment in the all-new XC90. It now covers vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in front of the car, day and night.
Automatic support in queues
On the driver support side, the new Adaptive Cruise Control with Pilot Assist enables safe and comfortable semi-autonomous driving by automatically following the vehicle ahead in stop-and-go traffic. Acceleration, braking and now also steering are controlled automatically.
Making sure that the driver remains in full control also when manoeuvring and reversing in tight spaces, the all-new XC90 features a 360° Surround view (above). It gives the driver a birds-eye view where information from all cameras are added up digitally to a one 360° image. The Park Assist Pilot now also offers automatic reversing into a parking bay.
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