2024 Volvo EX90 SUV Is an Emphatic Entry into the Electrical Period

UPDATE 5/11/23: Manufacturing of the Volvo EX90 is being delayed, in response to a report from Automotive Information. U.S. deliveries will now start within the third quarter of 2024, with the maintain up coming as the results of software program improvement obstacles as Volvo readies the brand new electrical platform.

Volvo boasts that its present lineup is absolutely electrified, which means that each automobile’s powertrain—together with the gas-engine ones—has at the least some battery-electric element. The model’s acknowledged purpose, nonetheless, is to go a lot additional and promote solely battery-electric EVs—and no gas-powered automobiles—beginning in 2030. To date, Volvo has two electrics, the XC40 Recharge and the associated C40 Recharge, each variations of an current structure. With the all-new EX90, which is designed from the bottom up for electrical propulsion solely, we get our first have a look at Volvo’s EV future.

A New EV Structure

The automobile will launch with a dual-motor powertrain driving all 4 wheels. The 2 permanent-magnet motors produce a mixed 402 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque in the usual model. The Twin Motor Efficiency mannequin can have 496 horsepower and 671 pound-feet. Volvo estimates that the usual twin-motor EX90 will speed up to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, with the Efficiency model knocking a second off that point. The chassis options air springs, and the brakes measure 15.7/15.4 inches entrance/rear. The turning circle, at 38.7 toes, is a couple of foot tighter than that of right now’s XC90.

The EX90 makes use of a 400-volt structure, and the battery can have a usable capability of 107.0 kWh, with a focused vary of as much as 300 miles. Utilizing a 250.0-kWh connection, the EX90 will have the ability to cost from 10 to 80 p.c in roughly half-hour. The automobile may even include Plug and Cost for automated fee at charging stations.

The EX90’s EV structure will permit for bi-directional charging functionality, which means that the automobile’s battery may cost your home, both throughout an influence outage or, probably, even to promote battery-stored vitality again to the grid throughout peak hours. Volvo will promote the required dwelling hookup and vitality administration software program, though which markets we see this functionality in stays to be seen. When away from dwelling, the EX90’s battery can energy equipment or lend some juice to a different Volvo EV.

A lot of the powertrain matches that of the just lately unveiled Polestar 3—the battery capability, the motors’ torque output, and even the bi-directional charging functionality.

Pushing the Boundaries on Security

The EX90 additionally guarantees to be “safer than any Volvo automobile to return earlier than it.” That security push takes a number of varieties.

Two cameras educated on the motive force plus a steering-wheel sensor mix to find out the pilot’s stage of alertness. If the motive force has turn out to be incapacitated, the system can cease the automobile on the roadside and activate the hazard lights.

In-car radar is designed to detect a toddler or pet left within the car. If the system detects a toddler or pet, it could actually show a reminder, stop you from locking the doorways, and run the local weather management system to keep up a snug temperature.

The automobile launches with Volvo’s Pilot Help system, which provides lane-change performance to its present lane-centering functionality. The EX90 additionally will include the {hardware} for eventual “unsupervised driving.”

EX90 Design

The EX90’s exterior design was previewed by the Idea Recharge, though the EX90’s form and proportions are extra SUV-like than the idea’s extra wagon-like, lower-roof profile. In reality, the EX90’s exterior dimensions are near these of the prevailing XC90. The wheelbase is identical at 117.5 inches, whereas the general size grows by simply over three inches, to 198.3. The EX90 is about an inch and a half wider at 77.3 inches, and about an inch decrease at 68.8 inches.

To realize a claimed drag coefficient of 0.29, the grille-less entrance finish is rounded, the door handles and window glass are flush with the body-side floor, and the 22-inch wheels have separate wheel-cover inserts to clean airflow. The automobile’s lidar sensors, which will probably be used for the eventual self-driving functionality, are housed in a bump on the ahead fringe of the roof.

Total, although, the outside design would not stray from Volvo’s current design language. That is intentional, in response to Robin Web page, Volvo’s world head of design. “We made a acutely aware resolution to not go too loopy,” he says. “Afterward, we may be extra playful.”

A New Inside Idea

The EX90 debuts a brand new inside design for Volvo and is essentially shared with the Polestar 3. The spare, minimalist dashboard has a big, vertically oriented middle touchscreen for many capabilities. A smaller display in entrance of the motive force capabilities as a digital instrument cluster, displaying pace and vary in addition to a graphic of the automobile and surrounding visitors.

Knobs and practically all bodily buttons are banished. The exception is a big quantity knob on the middle console; gear choice is by way of a column stalk. Volvo makes an attempt to make navigating the massive, 14.5-inch central touchscreen simpler by surfacing completely different capabilities on the house display when the automobile is parked or driving, or whether or not there’s an ongoing cellphone name or audio taking part in. A couple of primary local weather controls are on the backside of the display, very like present Volvos; even the glovebox door opens by way of an on-screen button. As in right now’s Volvos, the infotainment system is Google based mostly but in addition helps Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with a wi-fi connection.

Like many EVs, the EX90 features a panoramic glass roof—which can be swell within the gloom of a Scandinavian winter however will place an extra burden on the air con in a Florida or Arizona summer season.

Dimension-wise, the EX90 cabin quantity is similar to that of the XC90. Passenger legroom within the entrance, center, and third rows are all inside an inch of the prevailing automobile, at 40.9, 36.5, and 31.9 inches. Cargo quantity is also about the identical, with the EX90 providing 13 cubic toes behind the rearmost seats and 68 cubic toes with all seatbacks folded. There’s additionally a small frunk with simply over one cubic foot of house.

Volvo beforehand introduced that its EVs would have leather-free interiors, and the EX90 provides Nordico as a leather-based substitute together with a wool-blend cloth. Different textiles are constructed from recycled plastic bottles. Trim items from FSC-certified wooden are backlit for “a Scandinavian front room environment.” The carpets are made partially from recycled supplies. Volvo says that 15 p.c of all of the plastics used within the EX90 are recycled or bio-based.

Different tech highlights: The EX90 will come normal with smartphone-as-key performance. The highest audio system, by Bowers & Wilkins, will function Dolby Atmos and blast music by means of 25 audio system, together with within the headrests.

EX90 Pricing and Arrival Date

The EX90 will probably be inbuilt Ridgeville, South Carolina, for the U.S. market—alongside the Polestar 3—and is predicted to achieve dealerships in early 2024. Nevertheless, prospects can pre-order their automobiles from time to time will have the ability to finalize their EX90 spec within the fall of 2023. Pricing is not being launched but, with Volvo saying solely that the automobile will probably be “properly geared up at underneath $80,000.” In addition to shopping for or leasing, the EX90 will probably be out there by means of the model’s Care by Volvo subscription plan. The mannequin will probably be bought alongside the present XC90 on the prime of the Swedish model’s lineup earlier than finally supplanting the XC90. The EX90 begins a parade of Volvo EVs, with the corporate saying it plans to introduce one new electrical mannequin per 12 months (a small SUV is more likely to be the following up). It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how carefully they hew to the EX90.

This story was initially printed November 9, 2022.

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Joe Lorio has been obsessive about automobiles since his Matchbox days, and he bought his first subscription to Automotive and Driver at age 11. Joe began his profession at Car Journal underneath David E. Davis Jr., and his work has additionally appeared on web sites together with Amazon Autos, Autoblog, AutoTrader, Hagerty, Hemmings, KBB, and TrueCar.