Volvo astounded visitors to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show last week with three modified models. The Las Vegas-based show has begin to attract major manufacturer interest and the Swedish company’s jaw-dropping models were the biggest pull, especially the hot XC90.Called XC90 PUV (Power Utility Vehicle), the concept car is powered by a ‘work in progress’ supercharged version of the V8 engine that could eventually pump out an astonishing 650bhp, compared with the production version’s 311bhp.Modifications include a 50mm drop in height, quad tailpipes, a huge air intake, flared arches and an aggressive bodykit.
Volvo North America was responsible for the PUV, but the special vehicles department in Gothenburg was behind the 340bhp V50 SV.A five-cylinder 2.5-litre turbocharged engine is mated to four-wheel drive and a close-ratio six-speed manual ’box.
And a hot S40 was built by Evolve, a Volvo-specific US tuner that brought two tweaked S60 Rs to last year’s event. It gets an estimated 400bhp from its 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine.
Paul Barker
Add your comment