The new Volvo EX90 all-electric flagship SUV has finally been unwrapped, billed as the start of a new era for the Swedish firm and the safest Volvo yet…

Volvo, which aims to be a fully electric brand by 2030, has whipped the covers off its new battery-powered EX90 flagship SUV in Stockholm.

Effectively arriving as the successor to the XC90 (though the latter will likely continue alongside the newcomer for a while yet), the 7-seater EX90 is described as the safest Volvo yet and the “start of a new era” for the company. Production will start in the United States in 2023 before also expanding to China.

The new EX90 is the third fully electric Volvo following the launch of the XC40 Recharge variants and the standaloneC40 Recharge. The Swedish automaker says it plans to reveal “one new fully electric car each year” as it moves towards its 2030 goal. Furthermore, it has an ambition to be a climate-neutral company by 2040.

What we know about the EX90’s powertrain so far

So, what’s happening under the skin? Well, the EX90 rides on Volvo’s new fully electric platform and will deliver “up to 600 km” of range on a single charge. The initially available 300 kW twin-motor all-wheel-drive version will feature a 111 kWh battery and two permanent magnet electric motors (one on each axle). There will later be a “performance version” generating peak outputs of 380 kW and 910 Nm.

Though the Gothenburg-based automaker has not yet gone into specifics around charging outputs, it has said the battery will be capable of moving from 10 to 80% in “under 30 minutes”. Selected markets will also gain the company’s home energy management system, which includes a bi-directional wall box and the ability to monitor and optimise the entire household’s energy consumption.

While Volvo promises the EX90 will deliver a “great and smooth driving experience”, it also describes the newcomer as “a highly advanced computer on wheels”, explaining it has been designed to “get better over time” thanks to regular over-the-air software updates.

Will the EX90 be the safest Volvo yet?

That extends to safety, with Volvo claiming the EX90 will “get smarter and safer over time, as it learns from new data and receives updates”. The safety system depends on cameras, radars and Lidar (note the roof-mounted sensor system), which connect to the vehicle’s high-performance core computers.

The Luminar-supplied Lidar system, for instance, is capable of picking up “small objects hundreds of metres ahead”. In the cabin, meanwhile, special sensors and cameras gauge the driver’s concentration levels and will even “safely stop and call for help” should it detect the driver has fallen asleep or taken ill.

Volvo says the sensors also helpimprove the “reliability and overall performance” of the Pilot Assist driving function, including new steering support for changing lanes. In fact, the company claims the EX90 is “hardware-ready for unsupervised driving in the future”.

A quick look inside the EX90’s cabin

The dashboard design appears fairly minimalistic, though is dominated by a 14.5-inch centrally sited screen running infotainment powered by Android (but also compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay). The range of Google apps and services will include hands-free help from Google Assistant and Google Maps navigation. In addition, 5G connectivity will be standard “where available”. The EX90 will also come with phone-key technology as standard, with the driver’s smartphone serving as a car key and automatically unlocking the vehicle, starting a “personal welcoming sequence” and loading a personal profile.

The Swedish firm describes the cabin as being “full of natural and responsibly sourced materials”. Indeed, the EX90 contains approximately 15% recycled steel, 25% recycled aluminium and 48 kg of recycled plastics and bio-based materials, which corresponds to around 15% of the total plastic used in the car.

“The Volvo EX90 is a statement for where we are, and where we are going. It’s fully electric with a range of up to 600 km on a single charge, designed to further raise our safety standards, the first Volvo car to be truly defined by its software and part of a wider ecosystem, connecting to your home and your other devices. The Volvo EX90 is the start of something new for Volvo Cars in many ways,” says Volvo Cars chief executive, Jim Rowan.

Although Volvo Car South Africa has yet to nail down an introduction date, it says the new EX90 is indeed planned for a local launch at some point in the future.

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