Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Set to replace the S80, the upcoming Volvo S90 will target the 5 Series and the E-Class

Ronan Glon
By

Volvo is busily developing a successor to the aging S80, and a new report coming out of England provides us with a better idea of what to expect from it.

Tentatively called S90, the sedan will likely be presented to the public next fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It will be positioned a notch above the existing S80 in order to ambitiously fight head-to-head against popular premium German sedans like the BMW 5 Series, the Audi A6 and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Lex Kerssemarkers, Volvo’s vice president of product strategy, explains that the S90 will look a lot more “distinctive” than the outgoing S80 because it will borrow a handful of styling cues from the Concept Universe (pictured) that bowed at the 2011 edition of the Shanghai Motor Show. The S90 will be introduced as a four-door sedan, and it will spawn a roomy station wagon called V90 a little less than a year after its debut. A long-wheelbase model will likely round out the lineup later in the production run, though it is too early to tell if it will be offered in the United States.

Volvo quietly points out that the S90’s interior will be an evolution of the new XC90’s. That means we can expect to find a center console dominated by a huge vertical touch screen that will run the latest generation of the automaker’s infotainment system and an easy-to-read instrument cluster with digital gauges and a configurable TFT screen.

Since the S90 and the XC90 will share the same modular platform, it’s not surprising that the sedan will be offered with the same engines as the crossover. For Americans, that means the entry-level S90 will pack a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that will use both a turbocharger and a supercharger to develop 316 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 295 lb-ft. of torque from 2,200 to 4,500 rpm.

For a little bit more cash, buyers will be able to order the S90 with Volvo’s fuel-sipping Twin Engine plug-in hybrid technology. Set to debut on the XC90 later this year, the drivetrain will consist of the aforementioned twin-charged four, an electric motor mounted over the rear axle and a smaller disc-shaped motor found between the engine and the eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Volvo S90 is tentatively scheduled to go on sale across the nation in time for the 2017 model year.

Topics
Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon
Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more
Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs
Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more