Volvo Car India to roll out luxury sedan S80 and SUV Volvo XC90

A luxury sedan and a sports utility vehicle are all set for roll out from the Volvo Car India stable. The company is gearing up for its forthcoming car launches of the Volvo S80, which is the luxury sedan, and the sports utility vehicle Volvo XC90.

According to a report, Volvo will introduce the two models with three engine offerings; 2.5 litre (diesel), 3.2-litre (petrol), and 4.4-litre (petrol) and a semi-automatic gearbox. The report said that the two models are currently undergoing homologation process at the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) that is likely to be completed by August-September, 2007.

The report added that the company had planned to launch the vehicles in 2006-end. However, it got delayed as certain homologation requirements from Volvo's end were not met.

Volvo plans to import the vehicles through the CBU (completely built unit) route from Sweden. The report added that there are no plans for a common platform strategy to be shared between Ford India and Volvo Car India. Volvo Car India is a division of Ford India. Volvo Car, in the meantime, has identified Mumbai, Delhi, and Chandigarh as primary cities where it would have its first set of dealerships present in the country. It will later expand to Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Kolkata, and Jaipur.

Meanwhile, Volvo Car India is also looking at the possibility of having a preferred financial solutions partner. The company is said to be exploring the possibility though currently there have been no talks with any of the local leading banks.