Coming soon: Volvo EX90

Volvo is heading full throttle into its electrified future with this new EX90, a large and luxurious seven-seater SUV combining next-gen safety technology with the brand’s cool Scandinavian design. Alongside cars like the BMW iX and forthcoming fully electric version of the new Range Rover , the EX90 goes all out for size, impressive performance and connected driving and uses its flagship role in the Volvo range to showcase technology that will surely filter down the range in the near future.
Technical highlights include a new dedicated pure electric platform based around an enormous battery good for a claimed range of just over 370 miles, with two motors powering all four wheels with a total of 517 horsepower. But this is Volvo, and themes of sustainability, connectivity and safety are perhaps just as important as impressive performance stats. Much of this is an evolution of the distinctive, Google-powered vertical screen already fitted to many of its cars. With bells on. Indeed, Volvo reckons the EX90 is as much “a highly advanced computer on wheels” as it is a car, and you’ll interact with it through your familiar Google apps much as you do your phone, home smart speaker or work laptop. Over the air upgrades will keep it fresh in much the same way, with new features and functionality meaning the EX90 will – it’s claimed – actually get better over time.

Volvo’s long-standing reputation as a safety pioneer also gets a digital boost, with what is described as an “invisible shield of safety” protecting both the EX90’s occupants and those around them. On top of all the usual driver aids new features include a system to monitor eye movements and detect when the driver might be tired and no longer on their A-game in terms of concentration. Expect prompts to pull over and take a break if this happens, though if you ignore them, the worst happens and you actually nod off or are otherwise incapacitated the EX90 will be able to take control, bring the vehicle to a safe halt and summon help.
While legislation to permit fully automated driving may be some way off yet – and varies according to laws in different parts of the world – Volvo is also future-proofing the EX90 to be able to take the wheel when permitted. Aware drivers need a clear guide as to how much autonomy is in play at any given time it’s also created an unambiguous display so you know exactly where your responsibilities lie.

Sustainability is another important part of Volvo’s image, the EX90 using a larger proportion of recycled materials than before. This also extends to efficient use of that huge expensive battery at the core of the vehicle, and the hardware to hopefully let you use it as a power bank for your home when it’s plugged in and parked on the driveway. Known as bi-directional charging, it’s the next big thing in electric cars and something most manufacturers are working on, the idea being the huge energy reserves a car can store can help you run your home to reduce the load on the power grid, before then charging itself back up at times when more sustainable energy is being generated through wind, solar or other renewable sources.
A big car with big ambitions, in conclusion. And while no prices have yet been confirmed the EX90’s role as a technology and luxury flagship for the Volvo range means it probably won’t be cheap. But as the brand works towards its goal of a pure EV line-up by 2030 you can expect much of what you see here to trickle down into the rest of the range, this statement of intent a glimpse into Volvo’s near future.