Volvo’s first ever petrol plug-in hybrid, the XC90 T8 Twin Engine, has qualified for the UK Plug-in Car Grant (PICG) scheme from the Office of Low Emissions (OLEV). The new XC90 T8 Twin engine is now available with an on-road price of £54,955 (including PICG).
The XC90 is the first car to be built on Volvo’s first in-house designed and built platform (SPA – Scalable Product Architecture), powered by Volvo’s new Drive-E powertrains.
The SPA platform is designed to incorporate electrification without encroaching on interior space, with the necessary battery pack being neatly concealed within the centre console. The Drive-E powertrain, from its initial concept, was designed to include electrification, with the new XC90 utilising both a 320hp petrol engine and 87hp electric motor.
With a combined output of 407hp, this 7-seat SUV emits an impressively low figure of just 49g/km of CO2, at the same time being able to go from 0-62mph in only 5.3 seconds.
The XC90 T8 Twin engine allows the driver to choose multiple drive modes:
- Pure – up to 28 miles of electric only range.
- Hybrid – a combination of the electric and petrol motors for the improvement of fuel consumption and emissions.
- Power – uses the full power from both petrol and electric motors, allowing the driver to use the maximum combined power of 407hp.
The Plug in Car Grant (PICG) has a designed criteria to encourage manufactures to decrease the level of outputted CO2 exhaust emissions. To achieve this, hybrid vehicles must emit less than 75g/km, a minimal travelling range of 10 miles and must reach a speed of at least 60mph in electric mode.
Companies choosing the XC90 T8 Twin Engine can benefit by writing down as much as 100% of the cost against their income tax liability. Drivers who choose the XC90 T8 Momentum will pay as little as £99.83 benefit in kind (BIK) a month (40% tax bracket) whilst enjoying a rapid and luxurious 7-seat SUV.
The XC90 T8 is available in three designs: Momentum, R-Design and Inscription.
Source; Volvo
