Volvo will introduce the EX90 electric SUV on November 9. The automaker has been teasing the model for the past few weeks, previewing the technology and features that come with the car. With just over a week until the big reveal, Volvo today teased the exterior design and explained some of the thinking behind the styling.
The automaker put efficiency at the top of the list when designing the EX90, focusing on reducing drag and reducing wind resistance. The seven-seat SUV will have a drag coefficient of 0.29, helping to maximize its range, which the company has yet to detail. Volvo hits the low cd with a rounded front design and flush door handles, which are visible in the close-up teaser images.
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Volvo also demonstrated the roof-integrated LiDAR system, which the company called a design challenge. It sits just above the windshield at the front of the roof. The automaker wanted to place the system as high on the vehicle as possible so it could see as much as possible, comparing grille-mounted systems to knee-high eyes.
The company says LiDAR will be the cornerstone of its safety systems as it strives to deliver unsupervised autonomous driving capabilities. LiDAR can detect pedestrians up to 250 meters (820 feet), and that’s just part of the SUV’s greater technological capabilities which Volvo says will understand the driver and their surroundings.
The EX90 will have 16 ultrasonic sensors, eight cameras and five surveillance radars on the exterior of the vehicle. Inside, the company will train cameras and sensors not only on the driver, but also on the passengers. The company will use radar to detect sleeping children and pets left inside the SUV and alert drivers if necessary.
Last week Volvo teased the interior of the EX90, highlighting the dashboard and digital displays, and today’s tease paints a fuller picture of the SUV. Sustainability will also be a feature of the model, with the SUV containing nearly 110 pounds of recycled plastics and bio-based materials. We’ll look at it in detail next week and hopefully learn more about the powertrain setup.
