The Volvo S90 is a flagship luxury car for Volvo. Volvo has always been known for building safe, reliable sedans, but it never really built a car that competed with cars like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, or even the Lexus LS.
The S90 changes that. This is a true luxury car inspired by the wild success of the XC90 SUV.
Aside from all the luxury and Scandinavian design you’d expect in a car like this, the interesting feature is Volvo’s wager on autonomous technology — or semi-autonomous as Volvo describes it. It’s a bet that Volvo thinks will have an impact on driving down the number of fatalities on American roads every year, which have stabilized at around 30,000 deaths a year for the last few years.
The S90 launches with IntelliSafe Assist as standard equipment. IntellisafeAssist includes Adaptive Cruise Control and Distance Alert and the semi-autonomous drive feature, Pilot Assist.
Pilot Assist functionality gives gentle steering input to keep the car in line up to 80 mph. The system no longer relies on another car to follow.
What is Volvo Saying?
“We created our new flagship sedan, the Volvo S90, as a real game changer. It is classy and cool. The exterior is exceptionally well surfaced with a fantastic stance and the sort of clean lines that are singularly appropriate of a Scandinavian design. The interior masters the art of blending innovative technology and natural materials into an elegant, welcoming and tasteful ambience, Swedishness at its best,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President, Design at Volvo Car Group.