Volvo has unveiled its latest all-electric car – the ES90, which can be perceived as a saloon, fastback or hatchback according to your preference. It is the first Volvo car with 800V technology, for a longer range and faster charging. It is the sixth fully electric model in the Volvo line-up, joining the EX90, EM90, EX40, EC40 and EX30. Note that Volvo, now under the Geely Group of China, also has a separate electric-only brand called Polestar.
“The Volvo ES90 combines our most advanced technologies with Scandinavian design and superior comfort, creating a true premium Volvo car designed to elevate your quality of life,” says Jim Rowan, Volvo Cars CEO. “It joins the EX90 SUV as one of our flagship models and cements our position as an industry leader in software-defined cars that harness the power of core computing.”
The front features a “Thor’s Hammer” headlight design, expressing a modern Volvo identity. The rear is equally distinctive, with new C-shaped LED rear lamps complemented by LED lamps in the rear window, creating a unique welcome and farewell light sequence. When picking their ES90, customers can choose from seven exterior colours and four alloy wheel options that vary from 20 to 22 inches in size. (Check these out on the Volvo website).
Design
The large and wide tailgate hatch makes it easy to load and unload. The boot provides up to 424 litres of loading space. Fold down the three rear seats – all of which can be folded down individually – and the loading space expands to 733 litres. There is also a 22-litre capacity frunk at the front which is perhaps only good for storing the charging cables. Volvo said its dual chamber air suspension and active chassis will offer “supreme ride comfort”.
Thanks to its long wheelbase of 3.1 metres, the ES90 provides very generous legroom for second-row passengers. Six interior ambient light themes for sensory well-being and a variety of upholstery options allows further personalisation.
The ES90 also comes with a panoramic roof that provides Ultra Violet ray protection of up to 99.9 per cent. There is a four-zone climate system with an advanced air purifier, certified as asthma and allergy friendly. There are three sound systems available, led by a top-of-the-line Bowers & Wilkins sound system with 25 separate speakers scattered throughout the cabin, including headrest and ceiling speakers. The system also features Dolby Atmos to deliver an immersive sound experience.
Google is built-in, which includes services such as Google Maps, Google Assistant and more apps on Google Play. The 5G-capable, seamless and responsive system is powered by the Snapdragon Cockpit Platform from Qualcomm Technologies and designed to provide critical driver information through the 9-inch driver display and the Head-Up Display (HUD). The 14.5-inch centre screen display gives access to navigation, entertainment, climate and the driver’s phone.
“The ES90 is the first Volvo car to be powered by a dual NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Orin configuration. That makes it the most powerful car we have ever created in terms of core computing capacity,” says Anders Bell, chief engineering and technology officer. The computer system is claimed to deliver “over 500 trillion operations per second”. Moreover, the ES90 can improve its software capabilities with Over-The-Air (OTA) updates.
The ES90 also represents the latest in terms of electric systems and battery technology. The Single Motor version is available with a 92kWh battery driving the rear wheels, while the Twin Motor and Twin Motor Performance versions with all-wheel-drive come with a slightly bigger 106kWh pack. The ES90 can add 300 kilometres of range in just 10 minutes at 350 kW fast charging stations and offers a driving range of up to 700 kilometres under the WLTP testing cycle. The bold proportions of the ES90 also contribute to the car’s efficiency and translate into a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.25.
Sensors
The ES90 comes with a strong safety cage, state-of-the-art restraint systems, as well as optimised deformation zones. The active safety systems are powered by an advanced array of sensors including five radars, seven cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors, and a lidar from Luminar Technologies.
This sensor set enables vision beyond human range to help avoid collisions and hazards on the road. The ES90 also has a driver understanding system as standard, which can detect when the driver’s attention is no longer focused on the road and step in to support.
The door opening alert in the ES90 helps to look out for and protect cyclists or pedestrians passing by when the driver and passengers open the doors. The ES90’s full-cabin occupant sensing helps to avoid leaving a child or pet behind. It can sense submillimetre scale movement, such as the soft breathing of a baby. The all-new car will be available in most markets this year and buyers can choose from two trims. – Plus and Ultra
