The Volvo EX90’s reveal on November 9th takes another step forward with these interior renderings. We’ll see how it looks after we add the new materials, textures, colours, and tunnel console, but for now, there are four elements: An instrument panel divided by a steering wheel, a small, uncovered screen behind the wheel, and an infotainment screen. The portrait-oriented tablet, as well as the three-spoke wheel, are carried over from the current Volvo design. Everything else in Volvo’s current interior designs is gone, including the centre console knobs and buttons. It appears to be the premium brand’s version of the interior we saw in the Polestar 3. It’s only fitting, given that both vehicles will be built on the same platform in the United States.
The physical design of the cabin and the technology of the car share the same philosophy: “What you need, when you need it.” Volvo claims that the sensor suite surrounding the EX90 will provide the car with a 360-degree view of what’s going on outside and inside the vehicle. “Because the car also understands its surroundings and you better than ever before,” said Volvo Cars’ head of UX Thomas Stovicek, “we can create an even safer situation by reducing mode confusion, distraction, and information overload.” On the infotainment front, we’re told the vehicle will do so by displaying contextual options and menus on the two screens. The centre screen, which appears to be larger than the current XC90 model, serves the functions we’ve come to expect of it. According to Autocar developers, the screen “will also show information based on context.” If you’re just driving, a bar near the bottom of the screen displays media information; if you’re on a call, it displays other controls; if it’s cold, it displays the defrost button, and so on.”
This situational awareness will be especially important as more roads are made available for hands-free driving and self-driving capabilities improve. The transition from hands-free and autonomous driving to hands-on driving, according to Swedish engineers, is critical. It wishes to make the transfer “effortless and intuitive.” The driver will first look to the display behind the steering wheel for traditional information such as speed and range, as well as to understand the operational status of the driver aids. Colour-coding the gauge display to convey how much work ProPilot Assist is doing sounds like another take on what Nissan does with the Ariya.
And, perhaps we’re overthinking it, but the range display shows 488 kilometres of range on a nearly full battery. In 12 days, answers to questions will begin to arrive.
