The Ultimate Fully Electric Car Redefining Luxury and Performance

This week, I was fortunate enough to attend the exclusive global launch event of the all-new Volvo ES90 in Sweden, as a guest of Volvo. Having experienced this groundbreaking electric car first-hand, it's clear that Volvo has set an ambitious new benchmark in the luxury electric vehicle segment. With its striking Mulberry Red hero colour, the Volvo ES90 isn't just a step forward for the Swedish manufacturer, it's a leap into the future.

Volvo ES90: A New Category of Luxury

Volvo describes the ES90 as being in a class entirely of its own, and after seeing it up close, I have to agree. Blending the refined elegance of a saloon, the flexibility of a fastback, and the practicality and spaciousness associated with an SUV, the ES90 uniquely redefines the concept of a modern premium electric vehicle. Its design skilfully eliminates traditional segment compromises, crafting a car suitable for every aspect of life, whether you're heading out on family adventures or managing professional responsibilities.

The ES90's exterior is confidently sophisticated, with a slightly raised ride height for an assertive presence on the road. Its sleek silhouette is complemented by the flowing roofline, not only enhancing visual appeal but also optimising aerodynamics. This aerodynamic profile contributes to an impressive drag coefficient of just 0.25, the best-ever achieved by a Volvo car, meaning greater efficiency, longer range, and less energy consumption.

Volvo ES90: Leading the Way in Electric Technology

Underpinning the Volvo ES90 is the new Superset tech stack, a highly advanced architecture consisting of a unified set of hardware and software modules shared across Volvo’s upcoming electric fleet. This revolutionary approach allows the ES90 to continually evolve over time, effortlessly upgrading features via seamless over-the-air updates. This ensures that every ES90 can benefit from improvements in performance, safety, and connectivity throughout its lifetime, delivering a car that truly becomes better the longer you own it.

One of the most striking technical advancements is the ES90’s dual NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Orin configuration, which offers unprecedented computing power. Delivering over 500 trillion operations per second, the ES90 stands as the most powerful Volvo ever created in terms of computing capacity. This technology significantly boosts safety, performance, and connectivity, empowering Volvo to continuously enhance the driving experience through AI-driven software updates.

Exceptional Performance and Range

A major highlight for any electric car enthusiast is battery performance and range, and the ES90 does not disappoint. It debuts Volvo’s cutting-edge 800-volt technology, enabling rapid charging speeds and impressive efficiency. You can gain up to 300 km of range in just 10 minutes at a 350kW charging station, charging from 10% to 80% in around 20 minutes. With a remarkable WLTP-certified range of up to 700 km per charge, the ES90 provides outstanding practicality for everyday journeys and long-distance drives alike.

Safety Redefined: Volvo’s Safe Space Technology

Volvo’s legendary reputation for safety innovation takes another giant leap forward with the ES90. Equipped with Safe Space Technology, this car integrates an advanced array of safety systems, including lidar, radars, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors. These comprehensive sensing technologies enable proactive collision avoidance and real-time hazard detection, even in low visibility conditions.

Another impressive feature is Volvo’s pioneering driver-understanding system, designed to ensure the driver remains attentive at all times. The system can detect if your attention wanes and intervene proactively, adding an extra layer of security. Furthermore, a full-cabin occupant sensor recognises even subtle movements like the gentle breathing of a sleeping infant, helping prevent tragic oversights and keeping all occupants safe.

Volvo ES90 Interior: Spacious, Luxurious and Sustainable

Inside the ES90, Volvo’s commitment to luxury and sustainability is evident. Scandinavian-inspired design principles bring elegant simplicity, clean lines, and premium, sustainable materials throughout the cabin. The interior is impressively spacious, with a generous 3.1-metre wheelbase providing exceptional legroom, particularly in the rear seats. Luxurious lounge-style rear seats can be individually reclined and ventilated, ensuring passengers travel in supreme comfort.

Adding to the cabin’s sense of tranquility is a cutting-edge electrochromic panoramic roof, which allows occupants to adjust transparency at the touch of a button, offering both sunlight and privacy. Volvo’s advanced four-zone climate control with an air purification system, certified asthma and allergy-friendly, ensures a healthy and pleasant atmosphere by filtering out 95% of fine particulates and virtually all pollen allergens.

Premium Audio and Infotainment

The ES90 offers one of Volvo’s quietest cabins yet, creating an immersive listening environment. Audiophiles will delight in the state-of-the-art Bowers & Wilkins sound system, which features 25 high-fidelity speakers, including headrest and ceiling units. This exceptional sound system also incorporates Dolby Atmos® spatial audio technology, and notably, a mode that recreates the acoustic experience of London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios.

Volvo’s next-generation infotainment system powered by Google provides intuitive connectivity and functionality. Integrated services include Google Assistant, Google Maps, and an extensive range of apps via Google Play. Connectivity is seamless, with built-in wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, ensuring your digital life integrates effortlessly into your driving experience.

Commitment to Sustainability

True to Volvo's vision of sustainability, the ES90 incorporates recycled and renewable materials extensively. With components made from 29% recycled aluminium, 18% recycled steel, and 16% recycled polymers, the ES90 strongly supports Volvo’s ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. Volvo’s innovative Nordico upholstery, produced from recycled PET bottles and sustainably sourced bio-attributed materials, further highlights their commitment to environmentally responsible luxury.

Additionally, Volvo introduces an innovative blockchain-enabled battery passport with the ES90, allowing transparent tracking of critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. This not only aligns with the company’s environmental goals but also empowers customers to make informed and conscious purchasing decisions.

Volvo ES90: A New Benchmark in Electric Mobility

With the ES90, Volvo has truly delivered an exceptional vehicle that blends Scandinavian elegance, pioneering technology, and world-leading safety standards into one remarkable electric package. It’s a car designed to evolve over its lifetime, continually enhancing safety, performance, and comfort through regular, over-the-air software updates.

Having witnessed its launch and experienced its capabilities firsthand, I can confidently say the Volvo ES90 not only redefines Volvo's own standards but sets a new benchmark for the entire automotive industry. It is a sophisticated, safe, and sustainable vehicle designed to enhance your everyday life and your greatest adventures.

For more details or to configure your Volvo ES90, visit Volvo ES90 Electric.

Discover more and book your test drive today at Volvo Cars UK ES90.