Electric Cars

Volvo has expanded its acclaimed Black Edition series to include the XC90, its prominent mid-size luxury SUV. This latest offering, which features an elegant all-black aesthetic for both the exterior and interior, signifies Volvo's response to the rising popularity of 'murdered-out' vehicles across the automotive industry. The XC90 Black Edition is available for both plug-in and mild hybrid variants, reinforcing its appeal in a competitive segment.

First launched a decade ago, the Volvo XC90 has consistently seen updates and refinements, maintaining its status as a stylish and desirable option in the luxury SUV market. The 2025 model year brought a comprehensive refresh, featuring a modernized exterior, an updated dashboard, a new infotainment system, and an enhanced suspension setup. These improvements laid the groundwork for the introduction of the Black Edition, which aims to provide an even sportier and more distinctive appearance.

The Black Edition's exterior boasts a high-gloss black finish applied to key elements such as the grille, the iconic iron mark logo, rear badges, and wheels. While previous Black Editions were often restricted to Onyx Black paint, the XC90 Black Edition offers more color choices, including Crystal White, Denim Blue, and Vapour Grey, allowing customers to opt for a contrasting look if desired. This flexibility in color choice adds a layer of personalization for buyers seeking a unique aesthetic.

Inside the cabin, the all-black theme continues with two distinct interior environments. Both options feature a charcoal headlining and elegant checkered aluminum decor, providing a sophisticated and cohesive feel. The charcoal seats are available in a choice of two material options, allowing for further customization to match individual preferences. This meticulous attention to detail ensures that the Black Edition’s dark aesthetic is carried throughout the vehicle, from the bold exterior to the refined interior.

Erik Severinson, Chief Commercial Officer at Volvo Cars, highlighted the customer demand behind this expansion, stating that the company is broadening its Black Edition lineup, now encompassing the XC90. This strategy ensures that Volvo offers a \"timeless and confident-looking Black Edition\" for customers across various vehicle sizes. This approach acknowledges the market's preference for dark, sleek designs that exude a sense of modern luxury and sportiness.

The XC90 Black Edition joins an expanding family of blackened Volvo models, including the XC60, EX40, XC40, and EC40 (formerly known as the C40 Recharge). An EX30 Black Edition, for Volvo’s smallest electric vehicle, is also anticipated soon, which will bring the total number of Black Edition Volvos to six. This robust offering demonstrates Volvo’s commitment to capitalizing on the widespread popularity of all-black vehicles, especially within the SUV category, where rivals such as the Audi Q7 (with its Black Optic Package) and Lincoln Aviator (with its Jet Appearance Package) also cater to this trend.

Volvo's Black Edition distinguishes itself by extending the darkened treatment to the interior, an aspect that some competitors do not fully embrace. While the XC60 Black Edition carries an approximately $11,000 premium over its standard counterpart, this gives an indication of the expected additional cost for the XC90 Black Edition. The new XC90 Black Edition is set to be available in various trims, with specific configurations for markets like the UK, ensuring that this stylish and sophisticated SUV reaches a broad audience seeking a distinctive, all-black vehicle.

After a notable 16-year presence, the Kia Soul, a vehicle celebrated for its distinctive styling and marketing, is concluding its production. Kia confirmed that the 2025 model year would be its last, with manufacturing ending this month. For those still interested, a limited number of units remain available at dealerships.

Launched in 2009, the Kia Soul quickly carved out a niche, selling over 1.5 million vehicles in the United States across three distinct generations. Initially conceived to rival models like the Scion xB, the Soul positioned itself between a compact car and a crossover, offering a unique tall driving position. This characteristic, surprisingly, resonated more with older demographics than its intended young urban audience, due to its ease of access and comfortable seating height. The car's memorable marketing campaigns, particularly those featuring animated hamsters, significantly boosted Kia's brand recognition and sales, contributing to a threefold increase in the company's US market performance during the Soul's lifespan. This success helped transform Kia from a budget-friendly alternative into a prominent mainstream automaker with a diverse range of popular cars and SUVs.

Despite its past triumphs, sales of the Soul have seen a considerable decline, dropping from a peak of nearly 150,000 units in 2015 to approximately 53,000 last year. Kia's current focus has shifted towards more profitable segments, especially larger SUVs such as the Sportage, Sorento, and Telluride. Additionally, the brand's lineup now includes overlapping models like the subcompact Seltos and the forthcoming K4 Hatchback, which are expected to cater to former Soul enthusiasts. The decision to discontinue the Soul also reflects broader industry trends, where the profitability of manufacturing and importing smaller, more affordable vehicles from regions like Korea is diminishing due to various economic factors, including tariffs. Given that the third generation of the Soul was introduced in 2019, its lifecycle was naturally drawing to a close, paving the way for Kia to reallocate resources towards burgeoning segments and electric vehicle development. The departure of the Soul, which was Kia's most budget-friendly offering, symbolizes the disappearance of yet another accessible new car in an economic climate marked by rising inflation and stagnant wages.

The retirement of the Kia Soul signifies a pivotal moment for the brand, highlighting its strategic evolution in a dynamic automotive market. While bidding farewell to an iconic model, Kia's focus on adapting to consumer demands and economic realities positions it for continued success with new offerings. This evolution underscores the constant innovation required in the automotive industry, where even beloved models must sometimes make way for future advancements and shifting market priorities.