Volvo XC90 First Edition online sell-out

VOLVO’S First Edition XC90 has sold out less than two days after going on sale, with buyers snapping up seven cars a minute on the Swedish car-makers website.

Capped at 1927 vehicles in honour of the year Volvo was founded, the limited edition SUVs went on sale on Wednesday, last week, but could only be purchased through Volvo’s official websites.

With 500 of the cars set aside for the United States and the same amount for China, the rest of the world jostled for the remainder.

Clearing the 927 vehicles took just 47 hours with most of the cars reserved within the first hour, and 10 deposits were taken from customers in Australia.

Volvo Car Group marketing, sales and customer service senior vice president Alain Visser, said the response was pleasing, but not unexpected following the reaction to the new XC90 when it was unveiled at the end of August.

“We are very pleased, but not really surprised,” Mr Visser said. “The huge interest in the XC90 escalated to astronomical levels after the world premiere last week.”

For Australian buyers the asking price was $A120,950 before on-road costs with a $3500 deposit required to secure the car before finalising the purchase with their local Volvo dealer. The price tag isn’t believed to be an indication of pricing for future the line-up as this is a special version of the SUV.

From the outside the First Edition XC90 will be recognised by the Onyx Black paint, eight-spoke 21-inch Inscription package wheels and subtle badging.

Seating is upholstered in Amber nappa leather and the dashboard is Charcoal leather with Walnut inlays.

Each car has been allocated a number which appears on the treadplate. Buyers were encouraged to select a number special to them.

“The first buyers signed up for their favourite number in milliseconds. The rapid response confirms that the XC90 is a truly iconic car model. The First Edition will be a collectors item in the future,” Mr Visser said.

First Edition buyers had a choice of two new Drive-E four-cylinder powerplants – a supercharged and turbocharged 238kW/400Nm T6 petrol or 168kW/470Nm twin turbo diesel.

Volvo Car Australia said local buyers will see their First Edition XC90s arrive in May or June next year.

The new seven-seater XC90 will make its motor show debut in Paris on October 2 and there are already reports that Volvo will make a super-luxury version of the SUV for the Chinese market.

Sources talking to British Publication Autocar have said the model will be a four seater only. Apparently the middle and third row will be replaced by a pair of XC90 front seats mounted at the rear to cater for the enormous chauffeur-driven trend among aspirational Chinese.