India-bound Volvo S90 revealed

The new Volvo S90 has been unveiled ahead of its public debut at the Detroit motor show in January. The premium luxury sedan is up against rivals like the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and Mercedes E-Class, as well as the next-generation Jaguar XF which will be coming to India next year, and sits on the same platform as the new Volvo XC90.

Volvo is aiming to make the S90 the cleanest car in its segment and will offer globally the same choice of powertrains as its larger SUV sibling, including the 394bhp T8 ‘Twin Engine’ plug-in hybrid and the D4 and D5 diesel engines. The T8 engine is expected to have better fuel economy than the XC90 manages with the same powerplant, with CO2 emissions of 44g/km.

In India, the car will come with a 2.0-litre diesel engine, the same motor that does duty on the XC90. The car’s exterior styling offers a more elegant look than the chunky, heavy-shouldered saloons Volvo has produced in recent years, while inside there are clear cues from the XC90 with the use of natural materials, including a slab of wood that forms part of the fascia.

Also similar to the XC90, the S90 gets a large portrait-layout touchscreen infotainment screen which includes controls for several of the car’s systems, including sat-nav and audio.

Safety features borrowed from the XC90 include the Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driving feature that keeps the car between motorway road markings up to 80mph, but the S90 adds a new feature the Volvo’s City Safety system that detects large animals and warns the driver or primes the brakes.

“Our idea was to bring something entirely new to this rather conservative segment and deliver a visual expression that exudes leadership and confidence on the exterior," said Thomas Ingenlath, senior vice president of design at Volvo Car Group. "On the inside, we have taken the S90 to the next level, delivering a high-end luxury experience that promises comfort and control."

Dr Peter Mertens, senior vice president, R&D, at Volvo Car Group, said: “The S90 has taken a big stride forwards in terms of driving dynamics, performance and ride. We have completely redesigned the Volvo driving experience from the ground up to deliver a sense of precision, engaging control and comfort.”

A V90 estate car based on the S90 is expected to make production following the S90’s debut at the Detroit motor show. The new S90 will come to India sometime during the festive season of next year. It is likely to be priced slightly below its direct rivals.