The XC90 is the first car to feature Volvo’s lightweight Scalable Product Archutecture and will utilise four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines from the carmaker’s Drive-E family, all of which are 2.0-litres in capacity and use a combination of supercharging, turbocharging and electric drive to increase power.

Volvo’s existing Plug-in Hybrid drivetrain, used in the V60, will not be transferred to the new XC90, but the basic formula is very similar. It features an internal combustion engine powering the front wheels and an electric motor at the rear axle, powered by a mains-rechargeable battery pack which doesn’t impact on load or cabin space.

The latest version, used in the XC90, will be considerably more powerful than the V60’s. Badged Twin Engine T8, it combines a supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine with an 80bhp electric motor to produce a 396bhp and offer four-wheel drive.

Its default drive mode will allow the car to function like a conventional hybrid, but with the option to switch to fully electric drive for up to 25 miles. The result is claimed CO2 emissions of around 60g/km based on the NEDC combined cycle, which is equivalent to around 112mpg.

Conventional drivetrains will comprise 188bhp D4 and 223bhp D5 diesel engines returning 56mpg and 47mpg respectively on the combined cycle, as well as 317hp T6 and 251hp T5 petrol units. All launch models will feature four-wheel drive, and Volvo expects the D5 to continue as the most popular engine in the UK.

Volvo is likely to unveil the XC90 at the Paris Motor Show in October, ahead of a sales launch at the end of the year.