Heico Sportiv Delivers A Tuner Volvo XC90 With A Subtle Body Kit And More Power

A body kit for a Volvo XC90? It sounds far-fetched, but it’s exactly what German tuner Heico Sportiv has just launched. And while tuner body kits are normally all about turning the car into something that shouts special like a billboard, this one is something different.

The Heico Sportiv XC90 takes the latest version of the Volvo SUV and adds subtle changes. Like an aftermarket version of Volvo’s R-Design trim, which, it just happens, Volvo has dropped with the latest version of its three-row SUV.

OEM-Plus Look For Fast Family Hauler

Volvo’s latest big SUV doesn’t take a massive departure from the styling of last year’s, but it does gain some more sleekness and a few extra curves. Heico’s new kit adds just a little bit to that through parts like a nine-piece front spoiler. Another subtle detail change is the addition of bumper air intakes that are just a bit larger than stock, and gloss instead of more matte.

If Heico hadn’t lowered this XC90 and fitted 22-inch wheels, we might not even notice it wasn’t standard as it came from Gothenburg. Subtle side skirts visually lower the SUV a little bit more, as does the new rear bumper skirt. Showing just how little Volvo has changed the XC90 over the years, that three-piece bumper add-on is backward compatible all the way to 2016.

Heico does more than just make your Volvo look special. It also offers what might be the only active flap-controlled sports exhaust for a Volvo SUV. Its system is controlled by a remote to go from quiet to loud, and it even works for models where the factory pipes are hidden.

Heico Offers More Power and Better Stopping, Too

Engine upgrades for the XC90’s 2.0-liter four include a new ECU that bumps it from 449 horsepower standard to 493 and torque from 523 pound-feet to 564. A new intercooler can help it make max power for longer thanks to cooler intake temperatures, and another upgrade will remove Volvo’s 112 mph speed limiter to let it drive at a speed that’s more fitting with German highways.

Six-piston front brake calipers and larger rotors are also available, and Heico claims they can cut 15 feet from highway braking distances. Lastly, sports springs or an air suspension controller can both lower ride height and add some handling crispness.

Heico’s interior upgrades include a new steering wheel. It will also sell you paddle shifters, upgrades to the Volvo’s center controller, and even vent knobs that include the company’s Viking helmet logo that match the exhaust tips and the front grille badge.

Heico tunes more than just the XC90. The company offers parts for everything Volvo. It started tuning the Swedish brand in 1995, but spent more than 20 years before that building motorsports-ready Volvo vehicles. It’s a bit like what Polestar used to offer for Volvo before it became its own car company. Heico Sportiv designs and builds its parts in Germany, and it obtains independent testing certifications, including certification as a vehicle manufacturer in Germany and Swiss Conformity Certification.

Source: Heico Sportiv