Guildford Living Dec - Jan 2020 10.29.04
The fantastic festive issue is here, packed with local events, Christmas fun, delicious recipes, chef Michael Caines plus advice on buying a new home.
The fantastic festive issue is here, packed with local events, Christmas fun, delicious recipes, chef Michael Caines plus advice on buying a new home.
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ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
Volvo XC90<br />
Plug in Hybrid<br />
Motoring journalist Sue Cooke test drives<br />
the all new Volvo XC90 plug in hybrid<br />
A car powered by an all-electric motor is<br />
an alien to me, even though I have driven<br />
several around the streets of Birmingham.<br />
The City environment is where electric<br />
cars are at their best, but it is not a future<br />
I easily embrace.<br />
Electrification is being introduced across<br />
the whole range of Volvo Cars and in the<br />
next few years, Volvo says it will have five<br />
fully electric cars with a decent expected<br />
range of 250 miles. “These times are<br />
exciting for manufacturers” said Iain<br />
Howat, Head of Product and Pricing for<br />
Volvo UK and the XC40 SUV will be the<br />
first electric car to arrive in <strong>2020</strong>.<br />
Personally, I prefer a safer step at a time,<br />
so would buy a hybrid and if the battery<br />
runs out, you have fuel back up. Volvo<br />
expects to sell one million plug-in hybrid<br />
cars by 2025, where you drive up to 30<br />
miles in battery mode, before the engine<br />
automatically kicks in. With less CO2<br />
emissions you pay less road tax, or none<br />
at all.<br />
the high-voltage battery’s capacity<br />
from 10.4 to 11.8 kilowatt hours. This<br />
increases the car’s electric-only driving<br />
range to a maximum of 28.6 miles –<br />
more than enough for an all-electric<br />
urban commuting journey. A new<br />
automatic gearbox brings improved fuel<br />
efficiency and slick gearshifts and I found<br />
acceleration from standstill is sharp.<br />
The <strong>2020</strong> seven-seater model, on sale<br />
now, has exterior design changes which<br />
include a new grille and lower front<br />
bumper. The air intakes have a fresh look<br />
and new alloy wheel designs have been<br />
introduced. Integrated roof rails have<br />
been added and dual integrated exhaust<br />
tailpipes are standard.<br />
As with all Volvos, there is a range<br />
of fantastic gadgets which I enjoy<br />
discovering. There is a new feature which<br />
is particularly useful for me when I forget<br />
which car I’m driving, let alone where<br />
I’ve parked. You can flash the lights and<br />
sound the horn to help you find your car!<br />
Brilliant.<br />
FACTS AT A GLANCE<br />
Model: Volvo XC90 AWD R-Design<br />
Automatic<br />
Basic Price: £66,645 otr<br />
Engine: T8 Twin engine petrol plug in<br />
hybrid<br />
Performance: 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds<br />
and on to a top speed of 140 mph<br />
CO2 emissions: 52 g/km<br />
Combined fuel consumption:<br />
90.7-113mpg (WLTP)<br />
happen. Other equipment includes a<br />
Sensus nine-inch multimedia touchscreen<br />
with voice-activated control, navigation<br />
system and access to the Volvo On<br />
Call connected services platform. As<br />
standard, there are LED headlights, a<br />
rear parking camera, keyless entry and<br />
start and when your arms are loaded<br />
with bags, there is a very useful poweroperated<br />
tailgate.<br />
Safety has always been a top priority for<br />
the Swedish manufacturer and in another<br />
innovative move, Volvo has announced<br />
that from <strong>2020</strong>, all new cars will have the<br />
top speed limited to 112mph. This is a<br />
major step when currently on this model<br />
the top speed is 140mph.<br />
The new luxury Volvo XC90 has a revised<br />
T8 Twin Engine petrol-electric plug-in<br />
hybrid powertrain with an increase in<br />
City Safety warns of and helps avoid<br />
many common accident risks and<br />
provides protection if a collision does<br />
The XC90 will be the first to offer Volvo’s<br />
new mild hybrid engine, powered by a<br />
2 litre 235hp diesel B5 engine with a 48<br />
volt battery. Volvo says that this engine is<br />
more efficient than a petrol. The system<br />
improves fuel economy – by up to 15 per<br />
cent in real-world driving – and produces<br />
lower NOx emissions than the outgoing<br />
D5 it replaces.<br />
The world of motoring is an exciting one<br />
which is changing rapidly. From hybrid<br />
to electric and in early <strong>2020</strong>, Volvo says<br />
it will launch its first autonomous driving<br />
car. I guess it’s something that I will just<br />
have to get used to and may even learn<br />
to embrace.<br />
10 | www.guildfordliving.co.uk