The 2017 Volvo S90 is a Luxurious Swedish Rocket Ship

BOLD RIDE

Copyright © 2015 Bold Ride LLC.

 

Posted by Zach Doell 

 

                               

 

You can put your tweed jackets away, as it would appear Volvo has put its old image in the rear-view. On Wednesday, the Swedish automaker pulled the covers off its all-new flagship luxury sedan—the 2017 Volvo S90—and while it aims at luxury titans like the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, it certainly looks like a car that hits its targets.

 

Revealed ahead of its public debut at the 2016 Detroit Motor Show, the Volvo S90 represents the brand’s second entirely all-new product based on its scalable SPA platform. As such, it shares significant technology with Volvo’s other newcomer, the 2016 XC90, and as you’ll see that’s a very good thing.

Under its skin, the S90 sports two gasoline variants of the brand’s Drive-E four-cylinder family. The first of which is the turbocharged and supercharged T6 engine, good for 320 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft of torque. The second trim, the T8, adds a plug-in hybrid system which generates 407 horsepower and 472 lb.-ft. of torque, sent to all four wheels.

 

Performance figures have yet to be released for the hammering Volvo S90 T8, but the T6 leaps to 60 mph in under 5.8 seconds. Diesel variants are also on offer, though they are not expected to be U.S. bound.

Performance aside, the Volvo S90 makes huge strides in exterior and interior design (replacing the aged S80 sedan). A number of crips styling cues carry over from the XC90, from the “Thor’s Hammer” headlights to the squared-up grille, and inside the S90’s posh interior is tied together with the new Sensus infotainment screen. The upholsterers and woodworkers in Gothenburg must be working like mad.

Volvo has also used the S90 to introduce a few new advanced safety features, including a “Large Animal Detection” system, designed to warn and preemptively brake if a collision with moose, elk, or deer is imminent.

 The other noteworthy bit of tech is a new semi-autonomous “Pilot Assist” system, which can steer and keep the car moving along in its lane (up to 80 mph) without the need to “follow” another vehicle.

Stay tuned for more as the Volvo S90 inches toward its U.S. debut in January.