You could nearly call the Volvo XC90 R-Design a sled. They both amount to entertaining cold-weather conveyance, but a sled's a primitive contraption that slides over snow and hopefully goes in a straight line with little to no control.
Rather, the XC90 digs into snow and ice, tears through its surface and moves through it with precision. More of an all-wheel-drive figure skate, really.
Fun in the snow with a sporty, sexy Swede
The XC90 V8 R-Design puts drivers at the helm of a 311 horsepower Swedish styling statement that's ready for a family road-trip in any weather.
Wearing 20 inch wheels, a two-tone paint job, quad exhaust tips and xenon lighting, it conveys distinctive European athleticism and an action-ready look. Among winter sports enthusiasts at the slopes, it attracts crowds like a rookie going headlong into a ski-lift support.
The big alloys and specially-tuned suspension help R-Design dance around slippery roads with remarkable confidence. Body roll is kept in check, the steering is well weighted, and the brakes are powerful and precise. Controls here would feel comfortable in a sports sedan.
The Snowstorm
Through hours of nasty-weather driving and two feet of snow accumulations, XC90 ensured confidence thanks to top-notch performance in two key areas: illumination and handling.
The adaptive xenon projector lights are aimed low and wide to minimize blinding glare in blowing snow. High-beams are magnificent too- illuminating the road, shoulders and foliage far up the road. Washers ensure optimal light transmission at all times, and there's a rear-mounted fog-lamp to ensure you're seen by motorists approaching from behind.
It's also an SUV that never feels heavy or hulky. That's a rewarding trait on dry roads, but also a useful one when you beat the plow-trucks to the highway. Should a skid occur, it's never an intimidating experience for winter-confident drivers rolling on appropriate rubber.
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| The XC90 R-Design conveys distinctive European athleticism and an action-ready look. |
Rather, the XC90 digs into snow and ice, tears through its surface and moves through it with precision. More of an all-wheel-drive figure skate, really.
Fun in the snow with a sporty, sexy Swede
The XC90 V8 R-Design puts drivers at the helm of a 311 horsepower Swedish styling statement that's ready for a family road-trip in any weather.
Wearing 20 inch wheels, a two-tone paint job, quad exhaust tips and xenon lighting, it conveys distinctive European athleticism and an action-ready look. Among winter sports enthusiasts at the slopes, it attracts crowds like a rookie going headlong into a ski-lift support.
The big alloys and specially-tuned suspension help R-Design dance around slippery roads with remarkable confidence. Body roll is kept in check, the steering is well weighted, and the brakes are powerful and precise. Controls here would feel comfortable in a sports sedan.
The Snowstorm
Through hours of nasty-weather driving and two feet of snow accumulations, XC90 ensured confidence thanks to top-notch performance in two key areas: illumination and handling.
The adaptive xenon projector lights are aimed low and wide to minimize blinding glare in blowing snow. High-beams are magnificent too- illuminating the road, shoulders and foliage far up the road. Washers ensure optimal light transmission at all times, and there's a rear-mounted fog-lamp to ensure you're seen by motorists approaching from behind.
It's also an SUV that never feels heavy or hulky. That's a rewarding trait on dry roads, but also a useful one when you beat the plow-trucks to the highway. Should a skid occur, it's never an intimidating experience for winter-confident drivers rolling on appropriate rubber.
 |
| The adaptive xenon projector lights are aimed low and wide to minimize blinding glare in blowing snow. |