What's the news?
It might have been possibly predictable, once Volvo announced the S90 saloon, but brilliantly the Swedish firm has confirmed it is going to do an estate version of its big executive, called the V90.
Like its S90 sibling and the fabulous XC90 SUV, the V90 sits on Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) underpinnings and features a range of Drive-E engines. The massive V90, harking back to Volvo's big estate heritage, will also benefit from Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driving technology, Apple CarPlay and a T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid model delivering around 410hp and an electric range of 50km. Volvo's senior VP for R&D, Dr Peter Mertens, further makes mention of PowerPulse technology that is designed to 'deliver a distinct performance boost to our diesel engine'.
"We have a very strong position in the estate segment," said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars. "In many people's minds we are known as the definitive estate brand. While the Volvo brand today stands for more than estates, we are proud to carry forward this rich heritage with the V90."
Anything else?
One thing the V90 does away with is the S90's rather striking rear lights and given they're a Marmite feature anyway, some might view that as a blessing, some as a curse. However, overall it's a glorious looking thing as big wagons go and Thomas Ingenlath, senior VP for design at Volvo Cars, said: "The modern premium estate is all about the intriguing combination of a luxurious experience with the functional origins of the estate silhouette. The sophisticated ambience of our new Volvo interiors is combined with a great cargo space, providing the right kind of functionality - whether through connectivity or cargo and storage solutions."