Volvo Car Malaysia introduced its new sedan flagship, the S90 T8 Twin Engine to the local market last week. The S90 T8 features the company’s highest Inscription trim interior, and joins the current S90 range of T5 and T6 engines in their Momentum and R-Design trims respectively. We conclude that the T8 is the best offering and you should look to get one. Why? Read on to find out.
It Features the T8 Twin Engine AWD Powertrain
The T8 Twin Engine as it name implies, is a combination of an internal combustion engine and electric power. The combustion engine here is the supercharged and turbocharged T6 engine at the front, which joins a 65kW electric motor at the rear with 240 Nm of peak torque. Synergized, the hybrid unit produces 407 hp and 640Nm of torque through all-wheel drive in Power mode, while Pure mode drives the rear wheels exclusively from the electric motor. The T8 marks the beginning of Volvo’s hybrid powertrain for the future. Just a few months ago, the brand announced that every Volvo launched from 2019 will feature an electric motor, underlining the company’s commitment to minimising its impact on the environment.
Impressive Acoustics on the Move
British audio company Bowers & Wilkins collaborated with Volvo Cars in the development of the car’s premium audio system, and it certainly can be heard. Here the company’s innovative Kevlar drivers and Nautilus tweeters are positioned on all doors and the rear, as well as B&W’s tweeter-on-top located at the dashboard – the latter most is placed to reduce the reflections from the windscreen. A ventilated subwoofer was a world’s first in the XC90 and is now also in the S90. In total, the B&W system in the S90 features 19-speakers driven by a highly-efficient amplifier with a total of 1,400 Watts of power.
Inscription Interior Trim
It is very rarely we get to see car interiors that provide a true sense of visual beauty matched with straightforward functionality. The meticulous detail in materials is especially evident in the Inscription trim that takes finesse to a ten. The comfort seats are upholstered in nappa leather, the interior inlay is finished in a linear walnut (but can be further customised with a dark flame birch or metal mesh aluminium depending on market). To finish it with a touch of class, the centre console features a handmade crystal gearshift made exclusively for the brand by Orrefors, a Swedish glassworks company founded in 1898.
More All-Electric Range
Volvo claims that the S90 T8 will provide up to 50km all-electric driving range when the batteries are fully charged. If the numbers are right, it means that this plug-in hybrid has the furthest all-electric range than any other PHEV currently sold by other manufacturers locally. As mentioned previously in the powertrain section, when it comes to the pure electric mode, the electric motor drives the rear-wheels exclusively, while the combustion engine drives the front. In hybrid and power modes, a mix of economical and AWD does it magic to provide the best as needed.
It’s Priced Right
This can be viewed in various ways, but we feel that the T8’s starting price of RM368,888 for the Inscription and RM388,888 for the Inscription Plus is priced rather well for a car of this class and size. In fact, the closest competitor, the Mercedes-Benz E350e is priced from RM392,888 is even more than the highest specified T8 Inscription Plus variant. Best of all, anyone ordering the T8 before November 2017 will get RM20,000 off the on the road prices for both variants – that’s RM348,888 and RM368,888 respectively!
What do you think? Share with us your thoughts on Volvo’s new range in the comments!
Click here to have a closer look at the S90 and V90 range from the brand’s official launch earlier this year!
Also click here for our interview with Volvo Cars VP of Design, Jonathan Disley and how they’ve gone to detail to bring the S90 to life.
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