By Otsile Kadiege

Sighting the growing popularity of multi-purpose vehicles (MPV), especially in Asian markets, Volvo Cars has taken a bold step by adding their first-ever premium electric MPV to their model tally called the EM90. The newcomer will initially be sold in China followed by other viable markets.

Exterior design

At the front, the instantly recognisable and iconic Thor’s Hammer headlights provide a grand appearance – the proud and confident face of a Volvo car. What really stands out, however, is how the headlights of the EM90 greet you with an illuminating front, including an illuminated logo that appears for the first time on a Volvo car.

At the rear, the 5.2 meters long MPV sports a lit-up wordmark and stylish rear light design that makes the EM90 stand out. The iconic Volvo vertical tail lamps have also evolved. Inspired by the skyline of modern cities, the tail lamp signatures extend both upward and downward, with the metal strip representing the core horizon line. The EM90 is available in four exterior colours, with warm tones inspired by the interplay between nature and light.

Interior design and tech

Inside, the EM90 is designed to be your living room on the move. Volvo promises ultimate comfort to make the most of the time you spend in the car, thanks to Scandinavian design details that offer a premium experience. Highlights inside the six-seater MPV include a massive 15.4-inch touch display with computing power provided by Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms from Qualcomm Technologies as standard and 5G connectivity where available, an additional high-definition 15.6-inch screen that is mounted in the roof, luxurious reclining lounge seats, a 21-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, top-notch sound isolation and road noise cancellation technology, a sunroof and a panoramic glass roof for the front and second row respectively to name a few.

EV performance

As a fully electric car, the Volvo EM90 has a claimed range of up to 738 kilometres under the CLTC testing cycle. The car comes with a 116 kWh battery pack and the charging time from 10 to 80 per cent is expected to be under 30 minutes. Powered by an e-motor with 200kW power output, Volvo claims the EM90 can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds and has a top speed of 180 km/h.

Availability

As mentioned above, the EM90 will be sold in China first and is now available for pre-orders for customers in the said country. Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director at Volvo Car South Africa said, “Local demand for electric vehicles continues to grow at an encouraging pace and we’re well aware that many high-profile South Africans appreciate the space and comfort offered by luxury MPVs. While we have no official announcements to make right now regarding a possible local introduction, we do believe the high-end, fully electric EM90 will be very well received in South Africa by individuals seeking business-class levels of comfort and refinement.”