Volvo’s Luxurious Three-Seater Barge Is Here!

•  The SUV features a multifunctional module instead of the front passenger seat.
• The module can be transformed into a 17-inch display, a table, extra storage for personal items or even a footrest.
• Gets the usual luxurious bits like the ventilated sofa-like massaging seats and a refrigerator.
• Under the hood is a T8 Twin-Engine motor packing 407PS and 640Nm.
• The luxury SUV is priced at Rs 1.42 crore (ex-showroom).
• Commands a premium of Rs 11 lakh over the standard XC90 Excellence.

Volvo has launched the three-seater XC90 Excellence Lounge Console in India. As the name hints, the SUV, based on the standard XC90 Excellence, sits at the apex of Swedish luxurious motoring. It swaps out the conventional 7 seats and practicality for a bespoke 3-seater setup with acres of space and a cabin experience rivaling a business class airline.

India is one of the few countries to get the Excellence Lounge Console after it was first unveiled as a concept at the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show. The front passenger seat now makes way for a multifunctional module that can double or triple up as a 17-inch display, a table, storage for personal items or even a footrest. The rest of the setup remains similar to the XC90 Excellence that is already on sale in India.

Contributing to the rich cabin experience are bits like the individual couch-like reclining rear seats that offers ventilation and massaging. Leg-room and overall space won't be an issue here thanks to the lesser number of seats. The SUV also comes with a refrigerator loaded with a bottle and glass holders, retractable touchscreen, and a heated/cooled cup holder. It also gains the finest quality upholstery complete with open pore wood and hand-crafted crystal glasses from Orrefors, a renowned Swedish glass maker.

It also gets all the bells and whistles from the XC90 Excellence including the 20-speaker, 1400-watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system. Being mechanically similar to the XC90 Excellence, the Lounge Console uses the same plug-in hybrid T8 twin-engine configuration that deploys a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-litre petrol motor good for 407PS and 640Nm, coupled with an electric motor. Transmission duties are taken care of by an 8-speed automatic gearbox that sends power to all four wheels.

Volvo sells the XC90 Excellence for Rs 1.31 crore (ex-showroom Delhi) while the Lounge Console commands a premium of Rs 11 lakh retailing at Rs 1.42 crore (ex-showroom). Volvo will only bring in more units based on demand, while there are less than 15 units available in the initial batch.