The first day of June 2016 marks yet another milestone for Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM), with the launch of the CKD version of the Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine. VCM was also proud to announce that Volvo Car Manufacturing Malaysia (formerly known as Swedish Motor Assemblies) is the first plant outside Sweden to produce the XC90 T8.

The Volvo XC90 T8 is the first Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle to be assembled in Malaysia and it also benefits from its EEV status granted by the Malaysian government, therefore bringing down the price by RM50k from the CBU equivalent. The locally-assembled XC90 T8 can now be had from just RM403,888.00.

QUICK FACTS

Name	2015 Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine
Engine	1,969cc; twin-charged 4-cylinder plug-in hybrid
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Max Power	407 hp
Max Torque	640 Nm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed	5.6 seconds; 230 km/h
Price	RM4o3,888.00

EXTERIOR

Nothing has been compromised in terms of equipment from the CBU counterpart, the CKD XC90 T8 is fully-loaded with goodies in this Inscription trim. It still rides on the same 10-spoke 20-inch wheels, and the Full-LED Active High Beam headlamps that incorporates the signature Thor’s Hammer DRL is also present here.

INTERIOR

It’s the same story on the inside. The instrument cluster is a huge 12.3-inch screen, the Sensus infotainment system lets the driver control almost everything via the vertically-oriented 9-inch touch screen in the middle of the dash, and the gear knob is a hand-crafted crystal by Orrefors that also lights up at night.
The four-zone automatic climate control is standard, while Volvo’s CleanZone purifies the air inside the XC90. It also has a powered glass sunroof as well as a hands-free powered tailgatethat opens by waving your foot under the rear bumper.

PERFORMANCE

To recap, the T8 Twin Engine is a combination of Volvo’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder Drive-E petrolengine that has been turbocharged and supercharged, and an electric motor on the rear axle. In total they produce 407 hp and a whopping 640 Nm of torque, which is sent to all four wheels via aneight-speed automatic gearbox. Zero to 100 km/h takes 5.6 seconds, with a top speed of 230 km/h, and yet its fuel consumption is rated at just 2.1 litre per 100km.

SAFETY

Apart from the normal airbags, the XC90 is stuffed with safety features which includes Blind Spot Information (BLIS), Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Aid, and Distance Alert, to name a few. There’s also a 360 Camera and City Safety, which detects the surrounding for vehicle, pedestrian, and cyclist.

WHAT ELSE?

While the equipment is unchanged from the CBU model, the colour option is limited on the CKD model. There are now just five colours to choose from (Ice White, Onyx Black, Saville Grey, Twilight Bronze, and Bright Silver), and they are all paired with charcoal interior. 

The selling price for the locally-assembled XC90 T8 Twin Engine without insurance isRM403,888.00, and it includes Volvo’s 5-Year warranty and Volvo On Call services.