Volvo Cars has unveiled a special version of the V90 Cross Country all-road estate to celebrate the start of 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race and support the fight against ocean plastics.
There will be 3 000 of the special edition V90 Cross Country sold worldwide and Volvo Cars will donate €100 (about R1 640) for each car sold to support the Volvo Ocean Race’s Science Programme around ocean plastics. The total donation will be €300 000 (about R4.8 million).
To help tackle the problem of marine pollution, this special edition V90 Cross Country model has carpets inlays made from Econyl, a fabric produced from 100% recycled nylon, including abandoned fishing nets reclaimed from the seabed.
In addition to standard Cross Country features, such as all-wheel drive, increased ride height and a chassis “optimised for comfort and control in all weather and road conditions,” this new vehicle gains a integrated, detachable torch, additional power outlets and smart dirt- and water-resistant materials.
It also sports matte grey and bright orange details, first shown on the Volvo Concept XC Coupé from 2014, a Crystal White exterior colour, special wheels and unique interior stitching.
“We’re proud to support the Volvo Ocean Race’s Science Programme which will help improve our understanding of the health of the oceans – our greatest natural resource,” says Stuart Templar, Director of Sustainability at Volvo Cars. “As a company, we work to minimise our impact on the world around us, so this project’s innovative approach to tackling a major environmental problem was a great fit for us – not least as we head towards an electric future.”
The Volvo Ocean Race Science Programme equips boats in this year’s race with a variety of sensors that will capture data including temperatures, barometric pressure, currents and wind speed.
Furthermore, the boats will measure levels of salinity, dissolved CO2 and algae in the sea water around them from remote parts of the world’s oceans. Combined with other data on microplastics, these measurements will help create a more complete picture of the scale of plastic pollution and its impact on ocean life. The Programme’s science partners include the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
The Volvo V90 Cross Country Volvo Ocean Race special edition will not be sold in South Africa, but you can find one on display at the Volvo Ocean Race Village in Cape Town during the event’s December stopover.