By Otsile Kadiege

Volvo Cars has taken the wraps off the all-new, all-electric fastback style ES90 sedan which boasts the Swedish automaker’s unmistakable design philosophy, which we’ve seen on Volvo SUVs like the EX30 and EX90, a plethora of advanced safety features, high-end technology, powerful electric motors developing around 500kW and large battery packs availing up to 700 km of range.

Exterior design

Outside, the new ES90 boasts an unmistakable modern Volvo design. Highlights include Volvo’s signature “Thor’s Hammer” headlight design, a sculpted bonnet, wheel sizes ranging between 20- to 22-inches, a roof scoop which houses the automaker’s lidar technology, flush door handles, a fastback-style rear pillar design and animated new C-shaped LED rear lamps complemented by LED lamps in the rear window.

Interior design and technology

Hopping aboard, the interior of the ES90 looks somewhat identical to the China-only EM90 and the soon-to-be launched EX90. Interior highlights include the use of premium and sustainable materials, a multifunctional steering wheel, a 9.0-inch digital instrument cluster, a head up display, a 14.5-inch centre screen display which houses most of the vehicle’s functions and runs on a Google-based infotainment system, a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, a panoramic roof that provides UV protection of up to 99.9 per cent, four-zone climate system with an advanced air purifier, and a boot space of 424-litres which can be expanded to 733-litres.

Safety

The Volvo 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 pioneering 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.

Performance and electric range

Volvo is mum on power and torque figures of the ES90 but we believe the flagship derivative will develop around 500 kW of power. The ES90 represents the latest in terms of electric systems and battery technology. The new 800-volt technology makes its debut in the ES90, helping to unlock faster charging, a better overall performance and more efficiency. Volvo claims 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.

Availability

The new Volvo ES90 is available for order in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Other markets will be added later.