Volvo ES90 debut: the new flagship of the electric era
It seems that Volvo is sticking to its ambitious plan to launch a huge number of new products in the coming years. But recently, only updated versions of already familiar models have been released; but now we are meeting a truly completely new product - this is a large electric car Volvo ES90, which occupies the position of the flagship by several criteria at once. So what is so special about the Volvo ES90 offering the world? And when will it offer its advantages to Ukrainians?
This is not a sedan, but a SUV liftback!
Here are those signature Thor's Hammer headlights in place, C-shaped lights are also present, a laconic straight line of the sill, large 20-22-inch wheels with multi-spoke rims - everything in the exterior of the Volvo ES 90 seems familiar, everything corresponds to the company's modern design trends. However, the key revolution of the Volvo ES 90 is not the details of the body design, but the body itself: the new electric car is made in the style of a large liftback, has a small protrusion of the trunk lid (which somewhat resembles a sedan), plus it is additionally raised above the road - like a crossover.
Here is such a complex mix of a 5-door body, hints of a sedan, as well as a higher body landing in the style of an SUV model. In order to make it convenient to examine all the charms of the new product, the Volvo ES 90 electric car has been made very large: length - 5 meters, width - 1.95 meters, height - 1.55 meters. The wheelbase has been stretched to 3.1 meters. However, here's how interesting it turned out: as if the dimensions are considerable, and the practical 5-door body is present - and the main trunk offers only 424 liters; plus a small front trunk of 22 liters.
Probably because the electric motor will be installed at the back anyway and it takes up some space. After all, the basic version of the Volvo ES 90 offers rear-wheel drive with a single electric motor (power 245 kW or 333 hp and torque 480 Nm); such an electric car is equipped with a battery with a capacity of 92/88 kWh (full/useful capacity) and this allows you to cover a distance of up to 650 km.
The next option is the Volvo ES 90 with all-wheel drive and two electric motors (total power 330 kW or 449 hp and torque 670 Nm); and this electric car is equipped with an already increased battery capacity of 106/102 kWh, which promises a range of up to 700 km. Finally, the maximum option is the Volvo ES 90 Performance: a similar battery and range, a similar all-wheel drive with two electric motors. However, the total power is already 500 kW or 680 hp, and the torque reaches 870 Nm - thanks to these indicators, the Volvo ES 90 Performance electric car accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 4 seconds, even despite its considerable (2553 kg) weight.
What's inside? New electronics and a luxurious interior
The technical characteristics are good, but not record-breaking. And the new Volvo ES 90 itself is built on the SPA 2 platform, which has already been found on other models of the company. So what makes the Volvo ES 90 electric car special, so that it deserves the status of a flagship? Firstly, the use of an 800-volt power architecture is a first for Volvo. This means the possibility of very fast charging: supporting power up to 350 kW, the ability to add energy to 300 km of range in just 10 minutes. Secondly, the use of two NVIDIA Drive AGX Orin control units. After all, there is really something to drive here: one lidar, five radars, seven cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors around the perimeter of the body - it seems like this is an excellent blank for a fully autonomous electric car!
And then add a cabin with a pair of displays (9-inch for the driver and a central 14.5-inch), integration of Google services and operation of on-board electronics based on the Snapdragon Cockpit Platform. In conclusion, the company claims that in terms of numerical computing capabilities, the Volvo ES 90 is currently the most technologically advanced flagship in the Volvo line. Although, of course, the cabin has not forgotten about general automotive values: elegant light trim, panoramic glass roof, advanced multi-zone climate control, soundproof laminated glass of the side windows, etc.
The cost of the electric car corresponds to its size, technical potential, high level of equipment, as well as a well-known European brand (but at the same time - do not forget about Chinese production). Ready? Currently, the price tags of the Volvo ES 90 in Europe only start at about 70 thousand euros, depending on the country. We will find out the Ukrainian price a little later, when the new Volvo ES 90 arrives in our country; this should approximately happen in the fourth quarter of this year.