Volvo Car South Africa launched recently the new R-Design version of its award-winning XC90. R-Design models are the sportiest XC90s to date, featuring a range of design, dynamic and equipment upgrades to give Volvo’s SUV a sporty makeover.
The outside of the car is distinguished by 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, black door mirrors and a gloss black mesh front grille. Inside, there are leather/nubuck sports seats and a perforated leather-trimmed steering wheel complete with gearshift paddles.
R-Design XC90s also get a powered front passenger seat with memory function (to match the driver’s seat), sports pedals, black headlining and upgraded interior lighting. There’s even an exclusive R-Design leather-clad remote key fob.
R-Design models come with Drive Mode Settings and Adjustable Steering Force as standard, too, which allow you to choose between different settings for the engine, transmission, steering and the optional air suspension.
The 2020 XC90 comes standard with Volvo On Call, an innovative app-based service that helps motorists to communicate with their cars.
It facilitates a multitude of tasks: with Volvo On Call, motorists can lock or unlock the doors to their car, check the fuel level and cool or heat their car – and they can do this all via their smartphone, smartwatch, tablet or desktop.
With Volvo On Call, a car becomes far more than just a means of travel. It becomes your personal assistant. It can tell you about the best coffee spots in town and send the destination to your car’s navigation system. It knows when you have appointments, where they are and how to get you there.
South African motorists will particularly appreciate the associated safety and security benefits. “Motorists who forget to lock their car will get a notification message. And Volvo On Call automatically contacts the emergency services if you are involved in an accident and tells them where you are,” says Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director of Volvo Car South Africa.
Other remarkable capabilities of Volvo On Call include the ability to provide an in-car WiFi hotspot, which can be accessed by everyone in your car. “The signal is so strong that you can even stream music and films without having to worry about buffering,” says Maruszewski. An added benefit is the fact that the batteries of portable devices are not drained, leaving them ready for use when they are needed.
Anyone who has ever lost track of their car in a huge parking lot will also welcome Volvo On Call with open arms. “The app will show you the location of your car on a high-definition map, and then provide directions how to reach it. You can even ask your car to hoot and flash for five seconds to identify itself and guide you to its location,” says Maruszewski.
Volvo On Call is entirely free of charge for five years. Thereafter, it can be extended for a fee.