The new seven-seat EX90 SUV from Volvo has been unveiled as the company’s new flagship. The new EV SUV, which is scheduled to go on sale internationally in 2024, is essentially a battery-only version of the current Volvo XC90. After the XC40 Recharge and the C40 Recharge, it is the Swedish brand’s third electric vehicle; however, it is the first to be supported by a specific EV SPA2 architecture. Although it has many similarities with the previously unveiled Polestar 3, the EX90 has three rows of seating instead.
The EX90 is a development of the current XC90 SUV in terms of design and is based on the Concept Recharge that was unveiled last year. The EX90 keeps the XC40 Recharge’s blanked-off grille and Thor’s hammer headlights as signature Volvo design elements.
It has flush door handles and angular 22-inch five-spoke alloy wheels that are visible from the profile. Although there are some side wrinkles, the huge glasshouse reminds me of the XC90. It has a dual tail lamp design with a C-shaped LED unit below and a pixelated pattern for the unit above that is rather distinctive from the back. The EX90 is a tiny bit longer than the XC90 in terms of size, at 5,037mm. It is lower than the XC90 but also broader.
The enormous 14.5-inch vertically oriented touchscreen with Volvo’s Google-based infotainment is the interior’s most notable feature. A 5G connection is included as standard with the EX90 to support over-the-air updates. Only the top-spec Ultra grade of the EX90 is currently available, and it comes with features like a panoramic sunroof, a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system with Dolby Atmos, and speakers built into the headrests. The EX90 also includes phone key technology as standard, which uses the smartphone as the vehicle’s key.
Using a lot of natural elements, the inside is finished with Nordico upholstery, a fabric manufactured from recycled materials like PET bottles and corks. Overall, according to Volvo, the EX90 incorporates 15% recycled steel, 25% recycled aluminum, and about 48kg of recycled and bio-based plastics, or roughly 15% of the total amount of plastic used in the vehicle.
The new EX90, according to Volvo, is the safest vehicle they have ever produced. Safety features, including those in the SUV’s hardware and software, have received a lot of attention. The sensor will be positioned on the front edge of the roof, and it will come equipped with Lidar (light detection and ranging). For the purpose of enabling cutting-edge driver assistance and safety systems, that will collaborate with a variety of additional internal and external sensors and cameras.
At first, that will consist of an improved Pilot Assist system and a lane-changing steering support feature. According to Volvo, the systems will eventually provide “unsupervised autonomous driving” in specific situations and locations via an over-the-air subscription upgrade. The interior sensors may detect eye focus to advise against tired or distracted driving.
The new safety equipment will be powered by a central software system that combines proprietary Volvo software with cutting-edge Nvidia Drive platforms, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Cockpit platform, and the infotainment and battery management systems of the EX90.
A twin-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain with two output levels will be the EX90’s standard setup. Performance variants offer 517hp and 910Nm of torque, while Twin Motor models deliver 408hp and 770Nm. The maximum speed for each model will be 180 kph. A 111 kWh battery provides power and a 600 km range (WLTP cycle). The electric SUV is capable of quick charging and can charge from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes. When hooked into a suitable charger, the Plug and Charge feature of the EX90 will immediately begin charging the device and processing payments.
Late next year, the company’s plant in Charleston, South Carolina, will start producing the Volvo EX90, with production at the company’s Chengdu, China, plant to follow. Volvo claims that by the time production begins, both plants’ manufacturing will be climate-neutral.
The EX90 is the first of one new totally electric cars that Volvo will introduce each year to help it achieve its goal of being an electric-only brand by the year 2030, according to the company. The company hasn’t announced what will come after the EX90, but it is known that it is working on a budget SUV to replace the XC40. Additionally, an electric version of the current XC60 is probably going to be a top priority.
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