Not only will the new Volvo EX90 be the company’s safest car yet, it will also have its most sustainable interior to date.
Volvo has set a target of 2040 to be both climate neutral and fully circular – that is, only using recycled or sustainable materials to make a new car, which in turn can be fully recycled and reused.
While the EX90 will contain about 50kg of material made from recycled plastics and “bio-based materials”, it falls well short of that lofty goal.
Despite this, Volvo says it is an important first step. On top of this, Volvo claims the EX90’s interior will be one of the “most pleasant and elegant car interiors on the market”, and will fully embrace Scandinavian values of “simplicity, well-being and natural sources”.
The EX90’s seats will be available in a fabric named Nordico, which combines recycled PET plastic bottles with material from “responsibly-managed” forests in Sweden and Norway.
For those who want to have a hint of the Toyota Century experience in their Scandinavian crossover, the EX90’s seats can also be finished in a wool blend sourced from sustainable and ethical sources.
Trim for the EX90’s cabin includes wood from sustainable forests certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), and feature warm backlighting.
Meanwhile the car’s carpets are made from a mix of new polyamide – think nylon – as well as recycled and regenerated polyamide.
The EX90 will make its full debut on November 9, European time.
It’s thought the EX90 will use an EV-friendly evolution of the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) employed by the current XC90, which it will effectively replace.
EX90 patent image 
Polestar 3
The EX90 should be closely related to the recently revealed Polestar 3. Specifics about the EX90’s drivetrain have yet to be revealed, but the range-topping Polestar 3 employs a dual motor system making a total of 380kW and 910Nm.
In its most efficient trim, the Polestar 3 is said to have a driving range of 610km using the WLTP standard.
Under the previous CEO Hakan Samuelsson, the EX90 was to be the first Volvo model to feature a proper name. Reports suggested the flagship crossover would be known as Embla, the first woman created by the gods of Norse mythology.
Volvo Concept Recharge
Jim Rowan, Volvo’s CEO since March this year, reversed course with the company telling Automotive News “brand familiarity” ultimately led the automaker to change tack.
According to Volvo, the new name “marks a new iteration on our current nomenclature and is reflective of our transition toward a full-electric lineup by 2030”.
MORE: Volvo EX90 SUV to offer bi-directional charging
MORE: Volvo interior radar to mitigate hot car injuries
