The 2016 Volvo XC90 made its debut in Sweden this week ahead of its public launch at the 2014 Paris Auto Show in October.
Touted by the automaker as the world's first plug-in hybrid that seats seven, the new XC90 stands as the first offering from Volvo after moving to the Chinese conglomerate Geely, Edmunds.com reported.
The 2016 version comes 13 years after the original XC90 launched. Volvo, which came to Geely after being owned by Ford, has been focusing on the new SUV for about three years now.
"The SUV is the new heartland of Volvo," CEO Håkan Samuelsson told Edmunds. "Our world has moved on from wagons to SUVs."
Featuring familiar styling with a few updates, the new XC90 SUV is scheduled to arrive at dealerships in April to compete with models such as the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz M-Class and Audi Q7. It will be available in five- and seven-seat options, Volvo expecting the third-row version to be the more popular model.
"The new model is lower, wider and longer than before, with an elongated hood that gives it a more planted stance," Edmunds described.
The XC90 will be equipped with four-cylinder gasoline engines; the base model will run on a 316-horsepower T6 engine that is turbocharged and supercharged, while the top-of-the-line option will have the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid.
Volvo has yet to announce exact pricing and specifications for the XC90 lineup, but the XC90 T6 AWD should start around $48,900, which will include navigation, 19-inch wheels and a panoramic sunroof in the standard trim.
The automaker will also release a limited-edition series to mark Volvo's founding. Exactly 1,927 First Edition XC90 models will be manufactured and equipped with the 316-horsepower T6 engine.
Volvo estimates that around 500 of the First Edition models will be purchased in the U.S. The limited-edition version will be available for order starting on April 3 and should be shipped in April.
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