The new Volvo EX90 has been revealed and is expected to launch in Australia in 2024. Here are all of the details on the new electric SUV.
Volvo has already dipped its toes into the electric car market, but in 2024, it hopes to land its first heavyweight blow. Meet the Volvo EX90, the all-electric replacement for the XC90 seven-seat SUV that will enter production towards the end of next year.
Its bluff silhouette, sharp shoulder line and “Thor hammer” headlights are reminiscent of its predecessor, but the EX90 is an altogether different machine beneath the skin. It rides on the same pure-electric SPA2 platform as the Polestar 3, and comes with a choice of two dual-motor powertrain options.
At over five metres long, Volvo’s flagship continues to offer seating for seven, with a 310-litre boot. This grows to 655-litres with the third row folded away, and a cavernous 1915-litre load bay is available with just the front seats in place.
The entry-level Twin Motor variant produces 300kW and 770Nm of torque, hauling the 2818kg SUV from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds. The more expensive Twin Motor Performance version cuts a full second from this time, thanks to a more potent motor setup with 380kW and 910Nm of torque. Both are limited to a top speed of 180km/h.
Each model is equipped with a 107kWh (usable) battery, but with its preliminary 589km range figure, the Twin Motor goes four miles further than its more powerful stablemate. A 10 to 80 per cent top up takes half an hour thanks to 250kW DC charging capability, and the SPA2 architecture also provides bi-directional charging capability. The technology is still under development, but it could allow users to send energy from the batteries back to the grid during peak times. The system can also power electrical appliances, or other Volvo EVs.
The EX90 is kitted out with Volvo’s latest array of radars and camera systems to make it the firm’s safest car yet. These sensors – along with a lidar unit which can detect objects hundreds of metres down the road, even at night – communicate with the SUVs NVIDIA DRIVE onboard computer, which processes road information in real time.
Along with the comprehensive suite of driver assists, including a Pilot Assist function that can take control of the steering, the EX90 offers a concentration monitoring system and sufficient hardware to enable autonomous driving in the future.
Volvo is ramping up its in-car connectivity suite with the EX90, which arrives with Snapdragon computing power and Unreal Engine 5 graphics, which has been used to develop blockbuster gaming titles. A 14.5-inch portrait touchscreen sits at the heart of the largely-button free, minimalist cabin, which runs an evolution of Volvo’s Google infotainment software.
The system includes a variety of Google apps and bundles 5G connectivity, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. A Bowers & Wilkins Dolby Atmos-enabled stereo also features, and customers are able to use a smartphone-based digital key to access the car and adjust its home charging schedule. Volvo also plans to improve the EX90’s software throughout its lifecycle via over-the-air updates.
While Australian prices and specifcations are yet to be detailed, in the UK, the EX90 will be launched in range-topping Ultra spec, costing a projected £96,255 (AUD$170,000) in Twin Motor guise and £100,555 (AUD$177,000) in top-spec Twin Motor Performance trim.
Riding on air suspension and 22-inch alloy wheels, Ultra models include a lidar system and driver attention monitor, along with the aforementioned Bowers & Wilkins HiFi, recycled fabric upholstery and a panoramic glass roof. A four-zone climate control setup is also fitted as standard, along with a cabin air purifier, soft-close doors and pixel LED headlights.
The EX90 will enter production in Q4 next year, with first deliveries scheduled for early 2024.
Yousuf Ashraf