Are US consumers ready for a plug-in SUV? Mitsubishi apparently thinks not, but Volvo is at least preparing the ground. Company executives told Green Car Reports that when the new XC90 goes on sale in the spring of 2015, it will be followed by a gasoline plug-in hybrid version, perhaps as little as four months after the launch of the legacy model.

The company sees the XC90 as a direct competitor to Mitsubishi’s Outlander, and at this point it’s anyone’s guess which company will be first to market with a plug-in.

The Volvo plug-in hybrid XC90 will use the company’s new Drive-E 2.0-liter direct-injected and turbocharged engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and a pair of electric motors to provide all-wheel drive.

Volvo’s V60 diesel PHEV wagon is a huge success in Europe (as is the Outlander PHEV). The Volvo execs said they can’t make a business case for selling diesels in the US, but are watching competitors like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes to see how they do with their diesel offerings.

Source: Green Car Reports