Hi-tech Volvo EX90 flagship BEV breaks cover

VOLVO’S new, pure electric EX90 seven-seat large SUV has been revealed in Sweden ahead of global deliveries commencing in 2024 from carbon neutral factories in the United States and China.

Pricing this far out from the Australian launch is not yet available, though US automotive publications are speculating a sticker of $US80,000, which converts to $A124,000 for the flagship Swede.

This compares with the current top-spec XC90 Ultimate Recharge plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that sells in Australia for $121,990 plus on-road costs.

Availability of XC90 PHEV and HEV variants is expected to continue alongside the new EX90 for a while, probably ending when Volvo goes all-electric in Australia from 2026.

When it does eventually arrive here on its new all-electric underpinnings, the EX90 will be vying with premium competitors from manufacturers including Audi, BMW, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Land Rover. 

Despite battery packaging constraints that adversely affect some of the competition, Volvo has been able to equip the EX90 with three seating rows to accommodate seven occupants.

The new SUV has a claimed range of up to 600km on a single charge according to the WLTP test cycle, with the capability of charging the 111kWh battery pack from 10 to 80 per cent capacity in under 30 minutes despite a lack of 800-volt electrical architecture.

It will be initially available with twin permanent magnet electric motors providing all-wheel drive and delivering up to 380kW of peak power plus 910Nm of torque.

As expected from Volvo, the new vehicle raises the bar in safety terms with what is called an “invisible shield of safety" that the company says can help reduce crashes that cause serious injuries or death by a fifth.

The safety system – which has a “learning” capability and benefits from over the air (OTA) updates – is underpinned by sensors, including eight cameras, five radars and lidar, connected to the EX90's core computers where the Nvidia Drive technology platform runs Volvo’s in-house software to create a real-time, 360-degree view of the world.

Volvo says inclusion of lidar technology “is a very big investment but based on Volvo safety DNA, we see this as a new signal for Volvo cars”.

The lidar system (similar to that used to detect speeding motorists by various Australian police forces) can sense the road in front, whether it is day or night, including at highway speeds. 

It can see small objects hundreds of metres ahead, creating more time to inform, act and avoid potential obstacles. The sensors also contribute to improving the reliability and overall performance of Volvo’s assisted driving function Pilot Assist, particularly while changing lanes.

Volvo equates the use of lidar technology in Pilot Assist as comparable with the advent of seat belts, with the additional benefit of preparing the EX90 for ‘unsupervised’ driving.

From a technology standpoint, most of the EX90’s main functions, from safety and infotainment to battery management, are run by a core system made up of Nvidia Drive platforms called Xavier and Orin for safety systems and artificial intelligence, with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon hardware and Google software platforms for the cockpit, all tied together with code developed in-house by Volvo engineers.

The system is said to give lightning-fast computing power and high-quality graphics for the in-car screens and head-up display, which results in a more responsive and enjoyable experience inside the car; the EX90 being a veritable high-powered computer on wheels with 5G connectivity where available.

A 15-inch centre screen is the gateway to “one of the best infotainment systems on offer, with Google built in”.

Google apps and services including hands-free help from Google Assistant, Google Maps navigation and favourite apps on Google Play are included.

Volvo says the displays in the EX90 “help you keep your eyes on the road by offering you the right information at the right time”. 

Passengers will be able to stream music through the new, reference-quality Bowers & Wilkins sound system featuring Dolby Atmos spatial audio as a Volvo-first, plus headrest-integrated speakers adding to the immersive sound.

The Volvo EX90 will also come with phone key technology as standard with the smartphone serving as a car key that automatically unlocks the car and starts a personal welcoming sequence on approach. The driver’s personal profile will also be loaded automatically on entry.

The brand’s CEO, Jim Rowan, described the new EX90 as “a statement for where we are, and where we are going”.

“It’s fully electric with a range of up to 600 kilometres 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.”

As well as carbon neutral manufacturing facilities, environmental credentials applying to the vehicle itself come from its construction that uses approximately 15 per cent of recycled steel, 25 per cent of recycled aluminium and 48kg of recycled plastics or bio-based materials, which corresponds to around 15 per cent of the total plastic used in the car – the highest level of any Volvo car to date.

Volvo XC90 sales in Australia have tallied 1185 units year to date for a 7.2 per cent market share. Volvo would be expecting this to jump significantly when the new EX90 arrives.