Volvo’s new premium flagship has a huge task ahead of it, as the S90 enters a segment dominated by the Mercedes E-Class, BMW’s 5-Series and the Audi A6.

The S80 successor will be initially offered with a range of four different powertrains consisting of two diesel options, one petrol and the range-topping plug-in hybrid T8 version.

The entry-level D4 version will use a turbodiesel 2.0-litre engine, producing 190hp at 4250rpm and 400Nm of torque (295lb ft) between 1750 and 2500rpm.

With power going to the front wheels via a six speed manual gearbox, the S90 D4 will accelerate from zero to 62mph (0-100km/h) in 8.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 143mph (230km/h). As for the fuel economy, the S90 D4 is able of returning a combined 68.9mpg UK (4.1lt/100km) and 109g/km of CO2 emissions.

Next up we have the D5 version, which also uses a turbodiesel 2.0-litre engine, only this time power goes up to 235hp at 4000rpm and torque is rated at 354lb ft (480Nm) between 1750 and 2250rpm. This engine is available only with an eight-speed Aisin automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. Volvo is launching the PowerPulse system with this engine, an innovative way of delivering instant turbo response in diesel engines during launch and low-speed driving. A compressor draws air from the air filter to a pressurized two-litre air tank. Then and when the driver wants to accelerate hard from launch or during low speeds, the air is fed into the exhaust manifold to spin faster the turbocharger, delivering a ‘responsive pulse of power’.

Zero to 62mph comes in 7.3 seconds, with a top speed of 143mph (230km/h). Fuel economy figures are a combined 55.3mpg UK (5.1lt/100km) and 133g/km of CO2 emissions.

The only available petrol engine in the range is no other but the supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-litre unit under the bonnet of the T6 AWD version. There is no 2WD option here, with the engine producing 320hp at 5700rpm and 295lb ft (400Nm) of torque between 2200 and 5400rpm.

The S90 T6 AWD will be available both in six-speed manual and eight-speed auto versions, with Volvo saying that the latter sprints from zero to 62mph in 5.8 seconds and returns a combined 38.6mpg UK (7.3lt/100km) of fuel consumption and 169g/km of CO2 emissions. The company has yet to announce the performance and economy figures of the manual T6 version.

The range-topping T8 plug-in hybrid version uses the same powertrain with the equivalent XC90 SUV, meaning the 320hp supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine combined with an 87hp electric motor, sending a maximum of 407hp and 472lb ft (640Nm) of torque to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Performance figures are not yet announced, with Volvo promising a combined fuel economy of 148mpg UK (1.9lt/100km) and just 44g/km of CO2 emissions. The 9.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack is mounted centrally in the tunnel of the car and allows the S90 T8 to travel on electric power only for more than 27 miles (45km).

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