The S90 marks a giant step
forward for Volvo Cars. The S90 will be the replacement for the outgoing S80 sedan
and will be making its way into India in 2016 as well.
The Swedish car maker is better known for its SUVs and estates, but with the launch of the S90 Volvo is clearly intent on shaking up the premium sedan segment with its distinctive executive class sedan.
Volvo’s Indian subsidiary, Volvo Auto India had announced
earlier that the company will launch seven vehicles in India in the year 2016.
Among which the completely revolutionised S90 is also included.
Equipped with a host of new technologies
ranging from cutting edge safety to cloud-based apps and services, the S90 is
further proof of the Swedish brand’s continuing transformation.
“With the launch of the XC90 we made a clear
statement of intent. We are now clearly and firmly in the game. With $11 USD
billion of investment over the past five years we have not only reimagined what
Volvo Cars can be – we are now delivering on our promise of a resurgent and
relevant Volvo Cars brand,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President & CEO, Volvo
Car Group.
The new Volvo S90 comes
equipped with an advanced semi-autonomous drive feature, Pilot Assist. The
system gives gentle steering inputs to keep the car properly aligned within
lane markings up to motorway speeds of around 130 km/h and no longer needs to
follow another car. Pilot Assist is another step towards full autonomous drive
– a key innovation area for Volvo.
The S90 will be available globally with three engine
variants. The 4 cylinder, 2.0 liter turbocharged and supercharged T6 engine,
the turbocharged T5 and the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid. Just like the XC90
which was launched earlier on in 2015, the T5 is a definite option that will
arrive in the Indian, but the T8 Hybrid might also make it to Indian shores for
the S90 as well as the XC90.
“Our idea was to bring
something entirely new to this rather conservative segment and deliver a visual
expression that exudes leadership and confidence on the exterior. On the inside
we have taken the S90 to the next level, delivering a high-end luxury experience
that promises comfort and control,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice
President Design at Volvo Car Group.
The S90 also introduces a
world first function to City Safety - large animal detection - a system capable
of detecting large animals such as elk, horses or moose, night or day. The
technology offers an intuitive warning and brake support to help avoid a
collision. The S90 has also benefitted from Volvo Cars’ recent investment in a
highly advanced chassis simulator.
“The S90 has taken a big
stride forwards in terms of driving dynamics, performance and ride. We have
completely redesigned the Volvo driving experience from the ground up to
deliver a sense of precision, engaging control and comfort,” said Dr Peter
Mertens, Senior Vice President, Research & Development at Volvo Car Group.
The S90 is set to be
publically unveiled at the NAIAS in Detroit
Source: Volvo Cars