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Since the spectacular new Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid was launched to the world's media, the Swedes have been having a tinker with its drivetrain - and they've astonishingly made it even more frugal than it was before.
At launch, the T8 TE's figures were quoted as 59g/km CO2 and 2.5 litres/100km (112.9mpg); not bad for a 2.3-tonne, seven-seat SUV, eh? However, further refinements have seen those numbers tumble to 49g/km and 2.1 litres/100km (134.5mpg). Not that this makes much difference to VRT or road tax, you understand, but it's nice to know the Volvo is so clean.
Volvo hasn't really revealed how it has trimmed 10g/km off the emissions figure, or the attendant hike in economy, but Dr Peter Mertens, the company's senior vice president for research and development, said: "We have been working hard to earn our competitive edge and to give our customers the ultimate combination of performance and low fuel consumption. Our Twin Engine technology has enabled us to build on our heritage of efficient powertrain development in a completely new way. Thanks to our new Scalable Product Architecture, and our world class four-cylinder engines, we have a clear and leading position."
Volvo isn't making a fuss about the power and performance figures, which also seem to have improved. Peak power is now rated at 407hp, not 400hp as before, while 0-100km/h is down from 5.9- to 5.6 seconds.
Is it realistic?
A word of warning to those who are fiscally prudent: at the launch, senior Volvo officials said it was highly unlikely many owners would be able to achieve 2.5 litres/100km, except for those who mainly used the car in electric mode. The XC90 can do a maximum of 43 kilometres using no fuel whatsoever, so only urbanites will hope to see the new figure of 2.1 litres/100km.