Volvo Cars has unveiled its all-new Volvo XC90, a premium-quality, seven-seat SUV with what it describes as world-leading safety features and new powertrain technologies.

It includes a line-up of new and efficient petrol and diesel engines. All will be 2.0-litre four-cylinder units and part of the new Drive-E family.

Only all-wheel drive XC90s will be available from launch in April 2015, with a front-wheel drive 187bhp D4 diesel version available from September next year.

The recommended retail price starts from around £45,000 for the D5 AWD Momentum, which will be available to order at Volvo dealerships in October. Customer deliveries are expected to start in May 2015.

Three years in the making and part of an $11 billion investment programme, the new XC90 marks the beginning of a new chapter in Volvo’s history, capturing its future design direction, incorporating its own range of new technologies and utilising its new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) technology.

“This is one of the most important days in our history,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Car Group. “We are not just launching a car but re-launching our brand.

“Today marks a new era for our company. The XC90 paves the way for a portfolio of exciting new cars to come over the next few years.”

The 316bhp T6 petrol is both turbo and super-charged, while the 222bhp D5 diesel is twin-turbocharged, with both engines mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Meanwhile, a plug-in hybrid option combines a 2-litre, 4-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, offering 390bhp with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of 60g/km.

The manufacturer says that the XC90 offers the most technologically sophisticated standard safety package available in the automotive industry. It includes two world-first safety technologies: a run-off-road protection package and auto brake at intersection capability.

In a run-off-road scenario, the all-new Volvo XC90 detects what is happening and the front safety belts are tightened to keep the occupants in position. Energy-absorbing functionality between the seat and seat frame cushions the vertical forces that can arise when the car encounters a hard landing in the terrain.

The XC90 is the first car in the world with technology that features automatic braking if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car. This is a common scenario at busy city crossings as well as on highways, where the speed limits are higher.

City Safety becomes the umbrella name for all Volvo Cars’ auto brake functions, which are standard equipment in the all-new XC90. It now covers vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in front of the car, day and night.

“The new technologies will take us a significant step closer to our vision that no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by 2020,” said Dr Peter Mertens, senior vice president, research and development of Volvo Car Group.

“Our starting point on safety is the same today as it was when the company was created almost 90 years ago: real-life situations. We study data. We crunch numbers. We innovate. The result is one of the safest cars ever made.”

Three focus areas will help Volvo Cars to reach Vision 2020: safety, connectivity and autonomous drive.

“With the XC90, we are taking the first step towards self-driving cars,” explains Lex Kerssemakers, senior vice president, product strategy and vehicle line management of Volvo Car Group.

“A new function that automatically follows the vehicle ahead in stop-and-go traffic will provide a radically simplified, semi-autonomous driving experience.”

Meanwhile, the manufacturer says that the XC90’s interior is the most luxurious to have been designed for a Volvo.

The most striking feature is a tablet-like touch-screen control console, which forms the heart of an all-new in-car control system.

This system is virtually button-free and represents an entirely new way for drivers to control their car and access a range of Internet-based products and services. It also helps create an interior that is modern, spacious and uncluttered.

“The new interior is pure and uncluttered, while still radiating the sophisticated confidence and formality that luxury SUV customers expect,” explains Thomas Ingenlath, senior vice president design of Volvo Car Group.

“The simplicity is perfectly in tune with our Scandinavian design heritage. It opens up generous surfaces and gives us the opportunity to create a modern, luxurious interior architecture.”

The new XC90’s interior combines materials such as soft leather and wood with handcrafted details including a gear lever made of crystal glass from Orrefors, the famous Swedish glassmaker, and diamond-cut controls for the start/stop button and volume control.

Craftsmanship has been in sharp focus throughout the development process.

The genuine seven-seater also features new, innovatively designed seats that also free up interior space for passengers in both the second and third seat rows. The third row offers comfort for two passengers up to 170 cm tall.

The all-new XC90 is also available with a range of accessories that makes it possible for the owner to create a truly personalised car.

There are two major exterior styling themes:

• The Urban Luxury package combines a colour co-ordinated body kit with polished stainless steel details, such as front deco frames, front and rear skid plates and side scuff plates. The 21-inch exclusive polished wheels complete the elegant look.

• The Rugged Luxury kit enhances the ruggedness of the XC90 SUV with tech matte black exterior trim, stainless steel skid plates, running boards with illumination and integrated exhaust pipes. This version is supplemented by unique 22-inch wheels.