Volvo enjoy setting demanding challenges for themselves. Not only have they set the goal that no one will die in a Volvo by 2020, but they’ve also said they want to reduce their average fleet emissions to below 95 g/km of CO2 by the same year. To achieve this, the next Volvo XC90 SUV will only be available with 4-cylinder petrol, diesel and hybrid engines and none will be bigger than 2.0-litres. This piece of news may be quite shocking to those who know the current Volvo XC90 range and the fact that engine capacities range from 2.4-litres, all the way up to a 4.4-litre V8.

Volvo claim that with the help of their new SPA (Scaleable Platform Architecture) set up, which is light and very strong, they will be able to keep the weight of the vehicle low. The new XC90 will also be smaller than the current offering, thus enabling it to achieve 6-cylinder levels of performance with 4-cylinder engines, which will be developed using the company’s VEA (Volvo Environmental Architecture) philosophy.

The SPA platform will be used in a variety of new Volvo vehicles and it will be specifically designed to accommodate hybrid drivetrains, as seen in the V60 Hybrid and electric C30 development vehicles. The SPA will also be more cost-effective as it allows every model to be manufactured on the same production line.

This move by Volvo definitely shows the Swedish manufacturer is doing more than just talking about sustainability and environmental consciousness. We are expecting the new Volvo XC90 to make its world debut in 2013 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and reach South African shores by the following year.