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The S90 saloon and V90 estate will arrive in dealer showrooms in September and October respectively.
Prices will range from £32,555 to £44,055, the estate models carrying a £2,000 premium over the saloons.
Like the XC90 SUV, which is already on sale, the S90 and V90, seen at the Geneva Motor Show, both use Volvo’s latest Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform and line-up of Drive-E efficient powertrains.
On offer initially will be two diesel units, the D4 of 190PS and the D5 Powerplus of 235PS.
Volvo expects great things of its Powerplus technology, the latest addition to the Drive-E engine programme and based around compressed air.
Carried in a tank under the bonnet, the air is used to spin the turbocharger at low engine revs, negating the lag that has traditionally blighted turbocharged engines.
Both engines will be combined with Volvo’s eight-speed automatic gearbox which in D5-engined cars will join to an all-wheel-drive powertrain.
Buyers will be able to buy cars with either engine in a choice of two trim levels, Momentum and Inscription. All will include a safety package topped by the Pilot Assist semi autonomous drive system – this can both maintain a set speed behind vehicles and make minor steering inputs to keep the car within lane markings at speeds up to 80mph.
City Safety, which provides automatic emergency braking to prevent collisions with pedestrians, cyclists and for the first time large animals, is also fitted as standard, Volvo pressing on with its stated aim of no person being killed or seriously injured in one of its cars.
Standard equipment on Momentum variants includes leather upholstery, LED headlamps with auto high-beam controls, two-zone climate control with a ‘CleanZone’ air filtration system, keyless engine starting, heated front seats, and powered boot (S90) or tailgate (V90).
Also standard is the Sensus infotainment system – this uses a nine-inch touchscreen and includes satellite navigation, voice control, and access to the internet. Apple’s CarPlay smartphone integration is an option.
Inscription versions add Nappa soft leather upholstery, powered front seats, an increase in size on the TFT driver’s information display from eight to 12.3 inches, 18-inch diamond-cut/silver alloy wheels, keyless entry and handsfree boot/tailgate opening and closing.
Walnut interior inlays, rear footwell and side step illumination and chrome exterior details also form part of the Momentum specification, while there is also an optional Xenium package, highlights of which include a powered tilt-and-slide glass sunroof, a surround-view parking camera system and the Park Assist Pilot aid that offers automatic parallel and 90o parking.
Andrew Charman
