Volvo T8 Twin Engine Powertrain

Efficiency without compromise: the T8 Twin Engine
powertrain from Volvo, launched in the 2016 XC90,
represents these traits. Made possible through Volvo’s
Drive-E engine (2.0-liter, four cylinder, super- and
turbocharged) and Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), the
T8 Twin Engine ensures high power with cleaner emissions
than many other automotive power plants available today –
400 horsepower, 59MPGe, 20 miles on pure electricity in the
XC90.

A gasoline engine up front mates to an electric motor at the
rear for eAWD, with the two united through an integrated
starter generator just past the transmission versus a
driveshaft. The generator can also provide an additional
power boost in certain situations. With SPA, Volvo can place
the Lithium-Ion batteries in the traditional
transmission/driveshaft tunnel, resulting in better weight
distribution and interior layout. Passengers thus enjoy more
seating space, ultimately earning the XC90 T8 Twin Engine
the title of the first plug-in hybrid, seven-seat SUV.