Last summer, we got out first look at the upcoming Volvo V90 facelift. A few months later, the Volvo S90 was spied getting the same facelift treatment. It was surely only a matter of time, then, before the new Volvo V90 Cross Country facelift would get spotted out in the wild.
Like the V90 and S90, the V90 Cross Country will be getting a very subtle refresh as part of a mid-cycle update. Our spies have caught a lightly camouflaged prototype of the updated V90 Cross Country being subjected to cold-weather testing. The lower parts of the front bumper and rear bumper are covered up, so expect them to receive some minor design tweaks.
Elsewhere, the V90 Cross Country prototype hasn't been updated with the new rear lights we saw on the standard V90 prototype, but these will likely be added as development progresses. On the V90 prototype, the shape of the lights looked the same but the graphics were different. The rear lights were also no longer flat, giving them a more three-dimensional look.
Technical details for the upcoming Volvo V90 facelift haven't been announced yet, but the recently updated Volvo XC90 gives us an idea of what to expect. The 2020 XC90 was updated with a Formula 1-style kinetic energy recovery braking system that reduces fuel and emissions by up to 15 percent.
Volvo has already confirmed this system will be offered for all 60 and 90 series cars including the V90, S90, and V90 Cross Country. Like the XC90, the V90 and V90 Cross County will likely be offered with a new B-branded T8 Twin Engine model incorporating Volvo's new energy recovery system and a 2.0-liter twin-charged four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system. In the XC90 plug-in hybrid, this setup produces a combined 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque.
While the exterior will be getting a very minor update, bigger changes will be found inside as the infotainment system is expected to be updated with Android Auto and new driver assists including Oncoming Lane Mitigation. Volvo hasn't made any announcements yet, but we're expecting the refreshed S90, V90, and V90 Cross Country to be unveiled later this year.