Volvo has been trying to become a more serious rival to German luxury-car makers Audi, Mercedes, and BMW, and it seems that it finally has a great chance of succeeding in it, after releasing details on the all-new S90 sedan, which is set to have its world premiere in January.
Foray Into the Premium Segment
The Swedish car maker has unveiled the 2017 S90, which will debut at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show, touting it as the company’s new flagship model that is supposed to challenge German automakers’ supremacy in the luxury sedan segment.
The S90 will obviously be filled with sophisticated technology and premium materials, but on top of these must-haves for every luxury model, it will also have some extremely innovative features that will surely set it apart from the competition.
“With $11 USD billion of investment over the past five years we have not only reimagined what Volvo Cars can be – we are now delivering on our promise of a resurgent and relevant Volvo Cars brand,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President & CEO, Volvo Car Group, in a company press release.
Animal Detection
Apart from the high-end safety systems, the thing that makes the new S90 truly one-of-a-kind is the “Large Animal Detection” system. It’s a system that is aimed at preventing collisions with animals, which are common in Sweden and many other countries, including the United States.
The system is supposed to help drivers avoid collisions with large animals, including moose, horses and elk, by warning the driver after detecting them and taking specific action to help slow down the car. Volvo says that the system can recognize the above-mentioned, and some other large animals, and alert the driver that a collision is imminent, while at the same time assisting the driver to avoid hitting the animal by automatically applying the car’s brakes.
The animal detection system could be of great help to drivers in countries like Sweden and the U.S., where collisions with animals like horses, deer and moose are not uncommon, and they can pretty dangerous, too.
Pilot Assist
Another essential aspect of the new S90 is the semi-autonomous feature called “Pilot Assist”, which is part of Volvo’s driverless car efforts. It allows the car to drive itself at speeds of up to 81 mph, staying within its lane and maintaining a safe following distance at all times.
Both of these advanced safety features are part of the Swedish car maker’s Vision 20, which aims to have zero fatalities or serious injuries in one of Volvo’s cars by 2020, continuing the company’s leadership in vehicle safety.