CEO Jim Rowan closed out Volvo’s 90/90 Day event with a sizzle reel. It was the highlight of a packed one-day event that saw updates to the XC90 hybrid SUV and the celebrated arrival of the EX90 electric SUV.
Rowan pointed out, “If you look closely, you might see another type 90.”
I didn’t have to look too hard. The CEO’s presentation ended with a full-screen preview of a new model, the Silhouette ES90, balanced on one end of a seesaw against the words “coming soon.”
No further information has been released about the ES90, but we can make some educated guesses about what Volvo is suggesting.
Most of what we need to know comes from deciphering the name. The ES90 is almost certainly an electric sedan based on the same battery-electric platform as the EX90 SUVAnd the sedan configuration is all but confirmed by the teaser’s three-box silhouette. If the ES90 keeps the SUV’s lengthy 117.5-inch wheelbase intact — pure speculation at this point, but a safe bet given the 90-series nomenclature — it’ll be big enough to compete with the likes of BMW’s i5 electric sedan, the Mercedes-Benz EQE and Audi’s upcoming A6 E-Tron.
As a lover of electric sedans, I’m really looking forward to this one.
Proportions are harder to gauge from the roofline seen in the ad. Plus, there’s no hint of the wheels. But I think this electric sedan will likely have the tall proportions and raised floor typical of other electric sedans — an unfortunate reality of battery packaging.
Still, the ES90 will certainly have a smaller aerodynamic cross-section than the EX90 and a lighter curb weight. Assuming this new model shares the same platform, powertrain and, more importantly, a 111-kilowatt-hour battery, the sedan should be able to meet or, more likely, exceed the SUV’s EPA-estimated range of 300 to 310 miles.
Finally, if we look closely at the teaser, we can also spot a small bump just above the windshield, similar to the EX90’s roof-mounted lidar sensor. That lines up with Volvo’s previous claims that laser sensor technology will be a core part of its future safety tech.
Volvo’s naming convention for electric cars is a bit annoying, but easy to understand. ES90 = Electric sedan, 90-series.
During its 90/90 Day event, Volvo announced that the first examples of the EX90 SUV will reach global customers this month, with deliveries in the U.S. planned for later this year. Additionally, updates to the XC90 mild and plug-in hybrid models are planned to follow.
After a few initial setbacks, these are two big steps toward the automaker’s goal of having a fully electrified lineup by the end of the decade.
We expect more details and previews of the new ES90 to be released in the coming months.
