This latest Cross Country from Volvo will get a 65mm (2.5 inch) bump in ride height compared to the regular V90, giving it a total of 210mm (8.2 inches) of ground clearance (remember the XC70 off-road wagon pictured below?).
The V90 Cross Country also gets a BorgWarner Gen 5 all-wheel-drive system, capable of sending up to 50% of the power to the back wheels. The system also always sends power to all wheels when it starts from a stop, to provide the best acceleration possible.
Apart from the height, the Cross Country’s distinguishing visual feature will be the plastic cladding around the wheel arches. It will also feature tires specially designed for the car’s off-road capabilities.
The four-wheel-drive system will work in conjunction with an off-road driving mode that’s only available on the Cross Country and the XC90.
“Designing a Volvo Cross Country is not a styling exercise, a plastic job. It is based on honest capability,” said Thomas Ingenlath, senior vice-president design at Volvo Cars. “The V90 Cross Country brings a surprising and intriguing combination of a strong, powerful exterior and a luxurious, Scandinavian interior. It (is) a blend of powerful off-road capability in a most elegant, sophisticated, tailored wagon suit.”
This V90 Cross Country is more than capable of four-season usage. If this version gets launched in Malaysia, it will most likely be the T6 version which will be powered by a 316-horsepower, supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, with power routed to Volvo’s newest generation of Haldex all-wheel-drive. Ground clearance is at 201 millimetres.
Inside is a cabin that delivers a high level of luxury, combining, says Volvo, all the latest connectivity and entertainment features, including a high-end Bowers & Wilkins sound system. The Cross Country completes the 90 Series model lineup, which also includes the award-winning XC90 crossover, the S90 sedan and the V90 wagon.
“The V90 Cross Country takes the elegance of the V90 and transforms it into an all-road car that delivers safety, comfort and performance in a capable and adventurous package,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president & CEO, Volvo Car Group.
