Volvo
took the facelifted S90, V90 and V90 Cross Country out for another round of
testing, this time in sub-zero temperatures near the Arctic Circle. The prototypes still hide the changes
beneath black tape, yet from the looks of it, we don’t expect any major styling
updates. Instead, the designers have concentrated their efforts on the front
and rear bumper trim and lighting signature, making them a bit different
compared to the outgoing iteration.
Unless
you’re extremely familiar with Volvo’s interior layouts, you won’t notice any
major updates once you step foot inside. Nonetheless, a new infotainment system
should be part of the offering, with Android OS, Google Assistant and several
other connected services. The new unit will also support over-the-air updates.
Elsewhere,
the executive models will still be some of the safest in the segment, and
contributing to that will be the revised range of driver assistance systems,
including the new City Safety and Oncoming Lane Mitigation. Additionally, you
won’t see the speedometer exceed 180 km/h, as this will be the new
limited top speed of all Volvos from 2020.
Aside
from the ‘T’ and ‘D’ petrol and diesel engines, the ‘B’ badge is expected to
join the lineup, featuring a mild-hybrid powertrain that debuts in the 2020
XC90. The top-of-the-line grades will stick to a plug-in hybrid unit. With three weeks left until 2020 comes
knocking on our door, we think Volvo will unveil the facelifted S90, V90 and
V90 Cross Country in the first quarter of next year.
