The 190 hp Volvo T4 engine apparently makes its debut in the new S90 and V90 for modelyear 2018. As was claimed by a Volvo employee who wants to remain anonymous. While the T4 is not exciting by design – it is the same turbocharged 2.0 litre inline four-cylinder already used in the T5 and T6 – it significantly lowers the bar to drive away in a new top of the line (petrol) Volvo. Currently, the cheapest way to drive a petrol powered S or V90 is with the T5, which costs around 50 grand in most European countries. Picking diesel is the cheaper alternative, the 150 hp D3 engine costs around 42.000 Euros. But the T4 will even things out, as it seems.

Speaking longterm, its unlikely the T4 will always be the entry engine. Volvo invests heavily in hybrid and full electric powertrains, and promised to offer these solutions in all their models in the forseeable future. This way, there might still be room for a T3 1.5 litre 3-cylinder model with around 150 hp (either buffed by a battery pack or not). Hybrid three-cylinder solutions are expected to arrive at the market with the new V40 and XC40 models, due for 2018-19.