Volvo EX90 unveiled as computer on wheels

The all-new Volvo EX90 has been unveiled as the brand’s most technologically advanced vehicle yet, granting it the status of a ‘highly advanced computer on wheels’.

By 2030, Volvo wants its entire lineup to be fully electric and the EX90 is the first model to set its plan in motion.

Safety is number one priority

Volvo’s reputation for safety has spanned decades and the EX90 plans to uphold that by raising the bar even higher.

It does so through myriad sensors including cameras, radars and lidar which are all controlled and connected by the EX90’s core computer brain. Nvidia Drive has also been installed to run Volvo’s very own software which can create a real-time, 360-degree view of the world.

The lidar sensor can detect pedestrians up to 250-metres in front of the vehicle and provides Level 3 autonomous driving.

When all of this is combined, Volvo says it essentially provides ‘an invisible shield of safety’ around the EX90.

The same level of safety extends to the interior too as the SUV’s sensors and cameras can sense the driver’s level of concentration on the road ahead.

It knows when you’re distracted, tired or not paying attention and will be sure to let you know through a ‘soft nudge’. If that doesn’t work though, the EX90 can stop itself and call for assistance.

Is it an interior or an office?

Like its safety systems, much of the core functions inside the SUV are run by Nvidia Drive AI, Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms and in-house-developed software which can all be updated over-the-air via a standard 5G connection.

The central 14.5-inch display features Google apps and services Assistant, Maps and more courtesy of Google Play.

Sound is blasted into the cabin via a Bowers & Wilkins audio system featuring Dolby Atmos, which also feeds noise through speakers in the headrests.

Your smartphone will also act as a key to the EX90 which automatically unlocks the car as you approach.

Fully electric drivetrain

The EX90 is powered by a 111kWh battery which supplies the SUV’s two permanent magnet electric motors for a combined output of 380kW and 910Nm of torque.

A range of up to 600km can be achieved while the battery can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in under 30 minutes via a hyper charger.

The battery can also be used to power homes, other electronic devices or another Volvo vehicle thanks to bi-directional charging.

Pricing and availability

We can expect to see the Volvo EX90 on New Zealand roads from 2024 with pricing being announced closer to its launch.

“This will be a hugely anticipated new Volvo for New Zealand and we have already taken early expressions of interest at our retailers – bringing together state of the art tech with 7 seat practicality and cutting edge design. Safety is in our DNA and this takes it to the next level,” says Ben Montgomery from Volvo New Zealand.