Author: Chen Jianli
Before this, I didn’t understand Volvo’s strategy. The flagship model XC90 has been on the market for 8 years since its release in 2014, and it seems to be milking the market by relying on its reputation rather than releasing a new version. Even though Volvo has planned to stop selling pure petrol vehicles by 2025, there is still some time to go until that day.
It wasn’t until the release of EX90 last night that I finally understood Volvo’s approach. I was mistaken to believe that Volvo was reluctant to upgrade XC90, as it turns out XC90 received an update in a different way. From its naming convention and body size, it’s easy to see that EX90 and XC90 are closely related, and EX90 can even be seen as the electric version of XC90. However, it’s worth noting that EX90 is built on the SPA2 platform and not simply a petrol-to-electric conversion. This makes it the first SPA2 platform car to display the Volvo logo.
Volvo’s design has always been on the conservative side, and even its new electric cars are no exception. Compared to the bold and imaginative designs from new automakers, EX90 can be seen as a “lazy designer series”. The overall design continues XC90’s design, and the front face draws inspiration from the Concept Recharge concept car. The brand’s symbolic Thor’s hammer headlights are preserved while incorporating a split design. The top part is enclosed, and the logo can also be illuminated. The lower grille can actively adjust its angle to reduce wind resistance during driving.The side of the car is almost identical to the XC90, and the hidden door handles are also designed to reduce wind resistance. The charging port is located on the left rear fender and may be arranged in a “two-in-one” layout. The design of the two-tone low-drag rims is very beautiful and enhances the sportiness of the entire vehicle.
The taillights of the EX90 have also been Volvo’s style for many years. Like the headlights, they also incorporate modular elements, but no matter how they change, they have a high degree of identification.
The exterior dimensions of the EX90 are similar to those of the XC90, with a length, width, and height of 5037mm, 2039mm, and 1747mm, respectively, and a wheelbase of 2984mm. The wheelbase is completely the same, and only the length has increased significantly compared to the XC90.
There is a slightly raised hardware on the front of the car roof, which contains a built-in laser radar with a detection distance of up to 250 meters. Other auxiliary parts include 8 cameras, 16 ultrasonic sensors, and 5 radars. After being equipped with the NVIDIA Orin chip, the total computing power of EX90’s autonomous driving assistance system is as high as 250 TOPS, far exceeding that of the Tesla Model Y/3, mainly for preparing for advanced autonomous driving in the future.
In the present, the EX90 is equipped with PilotAssist driver assistance system, with a capacitive steering wheel and two cameras inside the cabin. The DUS driver perception system can monitor the driver’s status 24/7. When the driver gets drowsy and falls asleep, the system first issues a reminder. If there is no response, it will automatically slow down, maintain the lane, and even stop the car to help the driver call for assistance. It is clear that Volvo places the highest priority on safety.
Among the many luxury brands, Volvo is a breath of fresh air. They refuse to excessively pursue the ultimate luxury feel of the interior, and adhere to the brand’s unique homely style, which seems to be the last line of defense for Northern Europeans. As a flagship model born in 2022, the interior of the EX90 is not luxurious, but it gives people a very comfortable and warm feeling. The black leather, light-colored wood grain, and wool blend seats all seem inconspicuous but are actually natural and certified by relevant environmental protection agencies.
The layout of the center console still shows shadows of the XC90. The cancellation of physical buttons and traditional embedded instruments make the EX90 look more concise. The 14.5-inch vertical screen is equipped with an 8155 chip, ensuring smooth performance and supporting Carplay and more online functions. After entering the domestic market in the future, there will also be software such as Gaode map and Netease cloud.Translate the following Markdown Chinese text into English Markdown text, in a professional way, maintaining the HTML tags inside Markdown, and only output the result.
The size of the full LCD instrument panel is not large, but it is relatively wide and has rich display content, with a good visual experience. In addition, the EX90 uses a hug transmission shift mode, which frees up a lot of space for the center console.
The EX90 continues to offer the Bowers & Wilkins audio system, but compared to the existing Volvo’s sound system, the new car is equipped with headrest-mounted speakers, with up to 25 speakers, and supports panoramic Dolby sound effects. The on-site listening effect is worth looking forward to.
As for the trunk space, with the entire vehicle using the third-row seat, the volume is 310L, which can be expanded to 665L after folding the third row. In fact, compared to the XC90, the increase is not too big, but fortunately, the EX90 also has a front trunk, which adds a storage space that is more practical for many electric SUVs on the journey.
The EX90 is equipped with a dual-motor layout across the entire range, but with two different tuning options. The standard version has a maximum power of 407 PS and a peak torque of 770 N·m, while the performance version achieves up to 503 PS of maximum power and 910 N·m of peak torque, surpassing many top-level sports cars. The 111 kWh battery pack allows for a WLTP range of 600 km and 467 km, respectively. Interestingly, the EX90’s electronic control system not only provides power to the electrical appliances, but also can feed back to the power grid system, acting like a mobile power storage station.
In terms of chassis structure, the EX90 is similar to the XC90. The air suspension will also appear on this flagship electric vehicle, with perhaps even better ride comfort than the XC90.
The EX90 will commence pre-sales in overseas markets next year and will be delivered in 2024. The domestic debut is expected to follow not long after. Currently, no pricing information for the new vehicle has been announced. In terms of hardware strength alone, the EX90 is fully capable of competing with the flagship luxury electric vehicles of BBA. Only time will tell if the pricing will be competitive enough to stand out from the luxury competition, especially in terms of safety.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.