A Volvo insider has confirmed to Autocar India that the next-generation S80 will be called the S90, thus putting an end to some speculation regarding the large sedan’s name. The S90 name follows Volvo’s product nomenclature for its SUVs (XC), estates (V) and saloons (S) but harmonises the range with ‘90’ symbolising the large, ‘60’ indicating mid-size and ‘40’ signifying small offerings in each product line.
The new Volvo S90 is likely to be revealed at the 2015 Geneva motor show and is expected to go on sale soon after. Like the new XC90 that debuts in October this year, the S90 is expected to be significantly more luxurious than its predecessor. The cabin design will be far removed from the simple shapes of the current car and quality should see a big step up as well. Even the exterior design will be a radical departure from the safe styling of the present S80 that has been on sale since 2006. Thomas Ingenlath, Volvo’s VP of design, confirmed the S80’s design will be true to the Concept Coupe revealed last year. Details like the hammer-shaped daytime-running LEDs, protruding grille and ‘C’-shaped LED tail-lights will make it to the production version of the S90 and are set to become elements common to Volvo’s sedans. Interestingly, Ingenlath also said that the concept’s angular cut of the rear window will become a brand signature for Volvo, much like the Hofmeister kink is for BMW.
The S90 will be built on Volvo’s SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform and will be available with a choice of hybrid-ready, 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, in different states of tune. While it is still too early to comment on the exact versions for India, it would be interesting to see if the S90 would finally help Volvo break the German trio’s (Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz) stranglehold on the Indian luxury sedan segment.
Nikhil Bhatia
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
