Volvo’s new EX90 – the ‘advanced computer on wheels’

Published on 12 November, 2022

Overview

Time was when a car was launched that the attention was largely on engines, power and engineering.

Now, especially with electric cars, it’s as much about the digital elements as anything else. The change has rapidly unfolded since a Volkswagen chief predicted cars would become “computers on wheels”.

This week Volvo rolled out its new EX90 electric SUV and described it as an “advanced computer on wheels”.

The all-wheel drive seven-seater is the start of a new era for the company which said it will reveal one new EV each year – and aim to sell only fully electric cars by 2030.

Volvo insists the car will be defined as much by its software as anything else, hence the “computer on wheels” analogy.

It also says the car will also get smarter and safer over time as it learns from new data and updates.

Sensors such as cameras, radars and lidar (light detection and ranging) are connected to core computers so response is instant in case you are a fraction of a second late in reacting to potential danger, for example.

The lidar system senses the road ahead – day or night – at highway speeds.

It can also see small items hundreds of metres ahead and act accordingly, giving the driver more time to inform, act and avoid.

There is a 14.5in centre infotainment screen that acts as a gateway to all sorts of activity.

Oh yes, the technical bits. Initially there will be a twin motor all-wheel drive version powered by a 111kWh battery. Generating 517hp it has 910 Nm of torque.

With a range of up to 600kms on a single charge, it tops up from 10pc to 80pc in under 30 minutes.