Volvo’s new electric flagship, the EX90, will see the light of day on November 9. This large SUV, closely related to the well-known Polestar 3, has been conceived as a replacement for the XC90, one of the company’s most popular models. Like its predecessor, it will be available with up to seven seats distributed over three rows of seats.
Our protagonist will compete in the E segment (executive SUVs) against rivals such as the Audi e-Tron, the BMW iX, the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, and the Tesla Model X. Against them, he will bet on a very personal aesthetic since both his Exterior and interior design will drink from the Scandinavian minimalism so typical of other vehicles of the brand.
In the latest advances published by Volvo, we can appreciate some characteristic elements such as the front devoid of a grill, the flush windows, the recessed door handles, the LiDAR sensor integrated into the roof, or the practically blinded rims. Its aerodynamic drag coefficient stands at 0.29, an outstanding figure for a vehicle of its type.
The LiDAR, which will enable the Volvo EX90 to offer a battery of state-of-the-art safety assistants and a level 3 semi-autonomous driving system, will be located above the windscreen. “It was a challenge to integrate LiDAR in a way that looks good and is optimal for its security applications,” explains T. Jon Mayer, lead exterior designer.
The Volvo EX90 will have a very Scandinavian character
“They are the eyes of the car, and while you could have them around the grid area, which would be equivalent to having eyes on your knees, it makes a lot more sense to have them as high up on your head as possible so you can see as much as possible. That’s why, together with our engineers, we decided to integrate it into the roofline to maximize its effectiveness.”
The Volvo EX90 will retain some of the design cues from the rest of the range, see the T-shaped ‘Thor’s hammer’ light signature. “We have taken inspiration from yacht design to outline the beautiful and elegant proportions of the Volvo EX90. If you look at the front, it looks proud and confident, inspired by a sailboat’s ability to cut through ocean waves. But it’s also rounder overall, which allows air to flow around the car more efficiently. “
Unlike other competitive models, Volvo has decided to provide its SUV with a large glass surface, something reinforced by the use of a huge panoramic roof. “We have put a lot of effort into the interior lighting of the EX90, trying to create a warm cabin and a slightly cooler expression on the outside. It is also related to the way people are perceived in Scandinavia. There’s a quiet, understated confidence that can seem cold at first, but once you get to know people, you find they’re really warm. That same confidence is exactly what we’re trying to convey.”
