2017 Volvo S90 Preview
New for 2017
The S90 is an all-new model.
Statement of Intent
When a carmaker introduces a flagship luxury sedan, that model needs to not only be competitive in its segment, but also make a positive statement about the brand. Set to go on sale later this year, the 2017 Volvo S90 looks ready to accomplish both.
The S90 takes the best of Volvo’s engineering and technology and puts it in a vehicle the brand has admittedly needed for some time. Replacing the aging S80, the S90 rides on Volvo’s new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, features efficient Drive-E powertrains, and standard semi-autonomous driving features. It’s a great luxury sedan, but it’s also distinctly a Volvo.
Powertrains and Performance
The S90 follows the XC90 crossover as the second model to use Volvo’s all-new SPA platform. Developed completely from scratch, it’s designed to elevate the performance of Volvo’s cars, and accommodate new technologies like plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Volvo’s new flagship sedan will launch in the U.S. with three powertrain options that are already available in the XC90. The versions used in the S90 should be identical in both specification and performance. The standard powertrain is the “T5” that is just now being introduced on the XC90. It consists of a 240-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive will be standard, and Volvo may offer all-wheel drive on this model as well.
The next step up is the “T6,” which uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is both turbocharged and supercharged, boosting output to 316 hp. Using both forms of forced induction ensures smooth and instant power delivery. The supercharger works at lower engine speeds, while the turbo takes over once it has a chance to spool up. Like the T5, the T6 will use an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive may be standard on this model.
Finally, Volvo will offer its T8 “Twin Engine” plug-in hybrid powertrain in the S90. Just like the setup in the XC90, it teams the T6 engine and transmission with a rear-mounted electric motor and a 9.2-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. This gives the S90 T8 all-wheel drive, as well as a combined output of 410 hp. So the plug-in hybrid will not only be the greenest S90, it will also be the most powerful.
Features and Trims
The 2017 Volvo S90 is a four-door, five-seat full-size luxury sedan. Pricing information and full details on trim levels and equipment will be released closer to the car’s launch later this year.
The S90 will be Volvo’s flagship model, and the list of standard and available equipment will reflect that status. That list includes the Sensus Connect infotainment system with central touchscreen and cloud-based applications, a TFT instrument cluster, CleanZone climate-control system, leather trim, and a Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system.
Design
More than ever, Volvo is putting an emphasis on design, and we’re not talking Ikea-grade stuff, either. The S90 adopts the cool and sophisticated styling theme of the XC90, complete with “Thor’s Hammer” T-shaped headlight elements. The large concave grille is meant to reference Volvo’s classic P1800 coupe, and features the latest version of the company’s “Iron Mark.” The distinctive front end is matched by a sleek four-door coupe body, with a low roofline that still allows for plenty of interior space.
And the interior has more to offer than just headroom. Like the exterior, it’s very stylish but also restrained. At the center of it all is a touchscreen display for Volvo’s Sensus Connect system. Unlike the screens in virtually every other car this side of a Tesla Model S, it’s portrait oriented. That makes using it more intuitive for anyone used to a smartphone. The screen is flanked by two “air blades” that add a stylistic flourish. Real wood and metal trim help the S90 live up to its luxury billing.
Safety
The S90 continues and expands Volvo’s fanatical commitment to safety. It takes another step toward the company’s “Vision 2020,” which states that no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by the year 2020, with the introduction of semi-autonomous driving technology.
Volvo’s Pilot Assist system will be standard on the S90. In traffic, it can automatically maintain a set distance from the car in front, and give “gentle steering inputs” to keep the S90 centered in its lane. The S90 will also have the ability to detect pedestrians, cyclists, or even large animals, and automatically brake if it determines a collision is imminent. Other available features will include Volvo’s City Safety collision-prediction tech, active high beams, park assist, and a 360-degree camera system.
Bottom Line
The 2017 S90 is a luxury sedan as only Volvo could make one.
Be sure to contact us online or visit us at Volvo Cars Silver Spring to be among the first to experience the all-new Volvo S90.
Image: Volvo