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The new Volvo V90 large estate car, which is due at Volvo dealerships in the UK by the end of the year, has been previewed.

The V90 is the latest in the Swedish premium carmaker’s top-of-the-line ‘90 series’ cars, sitting alongside the award winning XC90 SUV which launched last year and the forthcoming S90 executive saloon.

Volvo Cars said the new model will build on its heritage in the estate segment, that began over 60 years ago with the Volvo Duett, and takes the premium estate a clear step forward in terms of aesthetics, materials and finish, while living up to the ultimately practical nature of any true estate car.

“We have a very strong position in the estate segment,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars. “In many people’s minds we are known as the definitive estate brand. While the Volvo brand today stands for more than estates, we are proud to carry forward this rich heritage with the V90.”

Like the XC90 and S90, the V90 is built on the company’s specially-designed and fully modular Scalable Product Architecture (SPA).

“The modern premium estate is all about the intriguing combination of a luxurious experience with the functional origins of the estates silhouette. The sophisticated ambience of our new Volvo Interiors is combined with a great cargo space, providing the right kind of functionality – whether through connectivity or cargo and storage solutions,” said Thomas Ingenlath senior vice president for design at Volvo Cars.

The new V90 delivers Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive technology, which the carmaker claims is the most advanced standard safety package on the market, with large animal detection and run-off road mitigation, and class-leading connectivity including smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay.

“We have a very strong offer in the V90. Our PowerPulse technology is designed to deliver a distinct performance boost to our diesel engine, while the T8 Twin Engine petrol plug-in hybrid will deliver around 410 hp and a pure electric range of around 50 km,” said Dr Peter Mertens, senior vice president for R&D.