Volvo Shows Off Shocker XC90 PUV at SEMA

The transmogrification of the XC90 into the mutant PUV is finished off with a glossy coat of bright red paint. A yellow and blue

A yellow and blue crest on the flanks of the front fenders doesn't bear Ferrari's prancing horse, but instead a steadfast elk. (Photo: Volvo Cars of Canada)

crest on the flanks of the front fenders doesn't bear Ferrari's prancing horse, but instead a steadfast elk. It's a slightly comical tip of the hat to Italy's best supercars, and a calling card that this Volvo SUV, complete with roof racks, could very well keep up with even the world's top road-going cars.

Volvo's called its latest concept the PUV for good reason. It's got plenty of power. While the new Yamaha-designed 4.4-liter V8 produces 315 horses and 325 lb-ft of torque, enough to make it Volvo's most powerful production vehicle, when compared to other sport utilities such as the BMW X5 4.8is, VW's W12-powered Touareg, or for that matter the 500 horsepower twin-turbocharged Cayenne, the new V8 seems weak at the knees. While Volvo's engine-development team hasn't quite completed work on the brawny V8, from what we know it's expected to be impressive.

The XC90 PUV is the most powerful factory-constructed Volvo ever produced, with a reported output expected be in the 650 horsepower range. (Photo: Volvo Cars of Canada)

A remap of the engine, a power-boosting supercharger, and a free-flowing exhaust system are some of the improvements.

When all is said and done the XC90 PUV is expected to be the most powerful factory-constructed Volvo ever produced, with a reported output expected be in the 650 horsepower range.

The PUV's pavement-scorching power has been harnessed by a new 6-speed 'Geartronic' automatic gearbox, and to all four wheels via the sophisticated and very effective Haldex permanent all-wheel drive system. As with the regular XC90, the Haldex system is 'pre-charged', in that power can be instantly routed to the wheels which need traction the most, ensuring little slip and plenty of grip.