Volvo’s all-electric replacement for the current XC90 will be badged EX90, the Swedish brand has confirmed. The newcomer, which will share its underpinnings and tech with the new Polestar 3, will be unveiled officially next month.

Although Volvo has yet to reveal any official details relating to battery size, range and performance, it has confirmed that the EX90 will be fitted with a state-of-the-art lidar system that could make it one of the safest vehicles on the road. 

The tech will be fitted as standard and delivers what Volvo describes as a ‘protective shield’ both inside and out of the the car. In the cabin, cameras will be able to monitor driver behaviour and will be able to assess if they are tired or not paying attention to the road. On the outside, a network of lidar sensors will map out the area around the car, allowing the safety systems to react as soon as a hazard is detected. According to Volvo, the new systems have the potential to reduce the risk of death or serious injury by up to 20%.

The choice of EX90 for the vehicle’s nameplate puts an end to speculation that Volvo was set to ditch its familiar alpha-numeric system for actual names. Earlier this year, the Swedish brand registered the name Embla, which is the Norse name for the first woman. Many expected the brand’s switch to electrification to mark the return of famous Volvo nameplates of the past such as Amazon and Duett. 

The final production car is set to be unveiled in November, but is widely expected to match patent drawings that were lodged in Europe earlier this year. The designs, discovered and published by Worldscoop, appear to show the final design of Volvo’s battery-powered large SUV, which is set to launch next year.

Although the patent renderings are limited in terms of detail, they show that the new model will borrow heavily from Volvo’s 2021 Concept Recharge which introduced a new design language. The headlights on the patent images appear to be almost identical to those on the concept, and while the profile of the car suggests that the final design will be more SUV than estate, Volvo has clearly made an attempt to soften the blocky lines of the current XC90. 

Embla design will take styling cues from Volvo's striking Concept Recharge showcar, which was revealed last year

The EX90 will be built on a fresh set of underpinnings derived from Volvo’s SPA architecture. The new SPA2 platform has been designed to accommodate both electric and combustion engines and will eventually be used to underpin a range of new Volvo models along with other cars in the Geely Group. This includes Polestar, which will use the same platform as the basis for its all-electric Polestar 3. 

However, unlike many mixed-fuel platforms which have a universal design (such as those made by Stellantis and BMW), Volvo’s SPA2 underpinnings will be supplied in two forms, with the electric version featuring a flat floor, shorter overhangs and a larger cabin. This suggests that the fully-electric EX90 model will spearhead the new range with the existing ICE-powered model receiving little more than a facelift. 

Sales expected to start in 2023 with prices likely to start at around £65,000.

New model will be built on a new, all-electric platform that will be shared with sister brand, Polestar