All Volvo 90 series models have received several updates - delivering new safety, powertrain and connectivity options.
Volvo’s smartphone integration will now offer Android Auto functionality alongside Apple CarPlay. Delivering smartphone integration that covers mainstream smartphone operating systems, Volvo's 90 series cars will also now feature a new ‘Over-The-Air’ navigation system update, which ensures that the car always has the latest maps on board.
Two new connected safety systems that will make their debut in the S90, V90 and XC90: Slippery Road Alert and Hazard Light Alert, which use the cloud to share safety-critical data between cars.
"Today's Volvos contain many safety sensors. We believe that sharing safety-related information – whether around conditions or hazards on the road ahead – is a thoughtful and useful way to use the information the car is already gathering," added Dr Peter Mertens. "With Connected Safety, Volvo Cars is helping to define a completely new type of road safety system."
Slippery Road Alert increases the driver's awareness of both current road conditions and those on the road ahead, by anonymously collecting road surface information from cars farther ahead on the road and warning drivers approaching a slippery section of road in advance.
Hazard Light Alert forewarns drivers of vehicles that have activated their hazard warning lights on the road ahead, providing the driver with enough time to slow down. This is particularly useful on blind corners and over the crest of hills in the road. These two new connected safety systems will go live in Sweden and Norway initially, with a planned roll-out to other markets.
In addition to delivering updated connectivity and safety, Volvo Cars has also added several new Drive-E powertrain variants, delivering a 'balance of fuel economy and driveability'. A new exterior colour, Maple Brown, has also been introduced to the S90 and V90 as part of the update.
"Volvo Cars is the only car maker with a split-screen interface that allows you to use both your smartphone functionality and your in-car features without changing views. This is primarily a safety-related feature, designed to make our interface the easiest to use on the market. In the same way, our Over-The-Air update capability means that you will always have the latest map updates to hand," said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research & Development at Volvo Car Group.