Volvo’s EX90 Electric SUV Isn’t a Car. It’s a Computer-on-Wheels

By Somnath Chatterjee - News

Published: 11 Nov 2022, Last Updated: 30 Apr 2024

The autonomous luxury car has well and truly arrived. Overnight, the Volvo EX90 7-seater electric SUV was unleashed, providing automotive fans with a first glimpse at the Swedish icon’s plans for the future, and they come bristling with technology. While other brands are flirting with the concept of smart automation, Volvo is diving head-first into the world of advanced mechanics. In fact, the new EX90 is so clever that the supercomputer inside it, aptly titled ‘NVIDIA DRIVE’, is capable of running the entire show of cameras, radars and lidar. No human interaction necessary.

2024 Volvo EX90 Electric SUV | Image: Volvo

According to Volvo, the lidar, for example, is able to sense the road ahead of you regardless of day or night and has the ability to spot small objects hundreds of metres ahead. The EX90 will also keep an eye on the driver – who is needed, for now. Sensors inside the car will detect if the driver is distracted, drowsy or otherwise inattentive while even stopping the car, with additional safety features designed to call for help should the driver ever fall asleep. Perhaps most importantly, however, the EX90 is also ready for autonomous driving in the future. Arguably more so than its billionaire-backed rivals.

“The Volvo EX90 is our vision of a large family SUV in the electric age,” Jim Rowan, Volvo chief executive said. “Born electric and software-defined, it demonstrates what future Volvo cars will stand for in terms of safety, tech, sustainability, design and creating a more personal experience for every customer.

2024 Volvo EX90 Electric SUV | Image: Volvo

All this technology is managed by in-house developed software by Volvo engineers and beyond driver assistance features, the luxury quotient is also embedded in it. The EX90 gets a large 14.5-inch centre screen with Google built-in along with 5G connectivity being standard. That enables one to stream music faster and the traditional Bowers & Wilkins audio system that Volvo normally offers now has Dolby Atmos which includes head rest-integrated speakers as well. With so much emphasis on technology, Volvo seemingly decided a simple key was not enough and instead opted to remove it altogether, introducing a smartphone-enabled key that also immediately loads up your personalized profile.

“The Volvo EX90 is a statement for where we are, and where we are going,” Rowan continued. “It’s fully electric with a range of up to 600 kilometres on a single charge, designed to further raise our safety standards, the first Volvo car to be truly defined by its software and part of a wider ecosystem, connecting to your home and your other devices. The Volvo EX90 is the start of something new for Volvo Cars in many ways.”

Bowers & Wilkins system in the new 2024 Volvo EX90 Electric SUV | Image: Volvo

Talking about performance, the EX90 has a dual-motor layout along with all-wheel drive with the two permanent magnet electric motors together delivering 517 hp and 910 Nm of torque. A massive 111kWh battery also promises 600km range along with fast-charging capability from 10 to 80 per cent in under 30 minutes. Best of all, you can also use the car to charge other devices and even other Volvo electric cars. A new chassis should also enable it to be a sportier driver over the current XC90 while still displaying the calm driving manners that a Volvo is known for.

Sustainability is also a big highlight with the EX90 with the interior having sustainable materials along with even the car being made from recycled steel and aluminium along with recycled plastic too. Volvo will move to an all-electric line-up by 2030 and the EX90 is an impressive start towards reaching that goal though Australia will have to wait until 2024 to see this new electric SUV in the showrooms.

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