2005 Volvo XC90 V8 Preview

Volvo has worked hard to separate itself from its sibling Ford brands, and has achieved tremendous sales success in its own

Being a Ford Motor Company subsidiary, why wouldn't Volvo opt for one of its Premier Auto Group (PAG) 32-valve, DOHC V8s? (Photo: Volvo Cars of Canada)

right. This may be the only reason it chose to go with the Yamaha power unit, but there may be additional underlying reasons, possibly driven by its Ford owner. After all, the domestically based automaker has enjoyed an engine-supply business with Yamaha for years, starting with the Taurus SHO that appeared in 1988 as a 1989 model, featuring a high-revving V6 when it first entered the market, replaced later in the 1996 model year with a sport-oriented V8.

Volvo's Yamaha-built V8 boasts 315 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, which should prove ample for transporting the seven-occupant SUV quickly. Maximum torque comes on at 3,900 rpm, but more importantly it only needs 2,000 rpm to dole out 273 lb-ft of torque.

Volvo's Yamaha-built V8 boasts 315 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Volvo Cars of Canada)

Its transverse placement is unusual, for sure, as most V8 engines are configured longitudinally. Positioning it sideways allows for excellent packaging. No doubt the engine's compact size is another reason Volvo chose it.

While Volvo Canada has not announced pricing, the division says the new XC90 AWD V8 will be positioned competitively within the 8-cylinder luxury SUV segment. What's more, the only directly competitive 7-seat SUVs featuring V8 power are the Lexus GX 470 and Land Rover LR3. With the LR3 in mind, maybe Doolan wasn't considering the U.K. as part of Europe when he stated that, "The Volvo XC90 is the only European V8 with the versatility of seven seats." Of course, if the U.K. isn't part of Europe, where does that leave the Scandinavian countries?