Yahoo Autos 2025 Volvo EX90 SUV Is an Emphatic Entry into the Electric Era
The 2025 EX90 is Volvo's first purpose-built electric vehicle.
Volvo also describes the three-row EX90 as its flagship SUV.
The EX90 will arrive in U.S. showrooms in early 2024 and is expected to be priced starting under $80,000.
UPDATE 5/11/23: Production of the Volvo EX90 is being delayed, according to a report from Automotive News. U.S. deliveries will now begin in the third quarter of 2024, with the holdup coming as the result of software development obstacles as Volvo readies the new electric platform.
Volvo boasts that its current lineup is fully electrified, meaning that every car's powertrain—including the gas-engine ones—has at least some battery-electric component. The brand's stated goal, however, is to go much further and sell only battery-electric EVs—and no gas-powered cars—starting in 2030. So far, Volvo has two electrics, the XC40 Recharge and the related C40 Recharge, both adaptations of an existing architecture. With the all-new EX90, which is designed from the ground up for electric propulsion exclusively, we get our first look at Volvo's EV future.
A New EV Architecture
The car will launch with a dual-motor powertrain driving all four wheels. The two permanent-magnet motors produce a combined 402 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque in the standard version. The Twin Motor Performance model will have 496 horsepower and 671 pound-feet. Volvo estimates that the standard twin-motor EX90 will accelerate to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, with the Performance version knocking a second off that time. The chassis features air springs, and the brakes measure 15.7/15.4 inches front/rear. The turning circle, at 38.7 feet, is about a foot tighter than that of today's XC90.
The EX90 uses a 400-volt architecture, and the battery will have a usable capacity of 107.0 kWh, with a targeted range of up to 300 miles. Using a 250.0-kWh connection, the EX90 will be able to charge from 10 to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes. The car will also come with Plug and Charge for automated payment at charging stations.
The EX90's EV architecture will allow for bi-directional charging capability, meaning that the car's battery could charge your house, either during a power outage or, possibly, even to sell battery-stored energy back to the grid during peak hours. Volvo will sell the necessary home hookup and energy management software, although which markets we see this capability in remains to be seen. When away from home, the EX90's battery can power accessories or lend some juice to another Volvo EV.
Much of the powertrain matches that of the recently unveiled Polestar 3—the battery capacity, the motors' torque output, and even the bi-directional charging capability.
Pushing the Boundaries on Safety
The EX90 also promises to be "safer than any Volvo car to come before it." That safety push takes several forms.
Two cameras trained on the driver plus a steering-wheel sensor combine to determine the pilot's level of alertness. If the driver has become incapacitated, the system can stop the car at the roadside and turn on the hazard lights.
In-car radar is designed to detect a child or pet left in the vehicle. If the system detects a child or pet, it can display a reminder, prevent you from locking the doors, and run the climate control system to maintain a comfortable temperature.
The car launches with Volvo's Pilot Assist system, which adds lane-change functionality to its current lane-centering capability. The EX90 also will come with the hardware for eventual "unsupervised driving."
