Volvo announced that the XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid model is now eligible for the UK’s Plug-In Car Grant scheme, thus making it more affordable to the interested buyers.

This is Volvo’s first model to use the brand new petrol-electric powertrain which combines a supercharged/turbocharged 320hp 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels and a rear-mounted 87hp electric motor driving the back. A 25hp starter motor is also mounted between the engine and the eight-speed auto gearbox, filling with torque where necessary and smooth the transition between different driving programs.

The result of all this wizardry is a claimed 49g/km of CO2 emissions with the total output according to Volvo rated at 407hp and a 0-60mph time of 5.3 seconds.

The Volvo XC90 T8 has an all-electric range of 28 miles while the driver has three different driving programs to choose from: Pure which is the full-electric mode, Hybrid for reduced CO2 emissions and Power for using the full 407hp power.

The seven-seat 407hp Swedish SUV is now priced at £54,955 with the PIC Grant included (£63,705 without it) while companies in the UK can write down as much as 100% of the cost against their income liability.

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