Volvo has upgraded the Recharge T8 powertrain used in multiple high-end cars on the North American market. The modifications let the gasoline engine and the electric motor to pump out 455 PS (450 hp / 335 kW) and 708 Nm (522 lb-ft) of torque, which is more performance than any road-legal Volvo vehicle ever had in history.
For now, the new Recharge T8 powertrain will only be available in the United States. It remains unannounced when it goes on sale there and if other countries may ultimately get it, too.
The electric motor now has 143 PS (141 hp / 105 kW) instead of the 87 PS (86 hp / 64 kW) from before. As a result, the car enjoys a 65% torque increase on the rear axle. The company does not specify how much the gasoline engine has been improved, but claims it now consumes less gas while crucially outputting more torque at lower RPM counts.
In addition to the above, the battery grows up from 11.6 to 18.8 kilowatt-hours, granting all affected hybrids up to 66 km (41 miles) of all-electric range. The company believes buyers of these new Volvos will be able to make most of their daily trips on pure electric power, never once igniting the IC engine. Furthermore, larger battery size means faster interior heating and cooling – you can use a dedicated mobile app to set the desired temperature and not worry about climate control being too slow on the uptake.
Finally yet importantly, the new Volvo XC60 and S90 support single-pedal driving that many EV owners know to appreciate (you can use the accelerator pedal to both accelerate and brake if you want to).