Volvo S90 spotted testing in Alingsas, Sweden - Spied

Will be unveiled in early 2016.

Courtesy of IAB reader, Jesper Stomberg Johansson, here's a spyshot of the Volvo S90 test mule spotted in Alingsås, Sweden. The Volvo S90 test mule is heavily covered up with body cladding, keeping the final design totally under wraps.

The S90's exterior design will borrow design influence from the company's latest design philosophy, which made its production-spec debut in the new Volvo XC90. It will most likely draw design cues from the Volvo Concept Estate; characteristic features being the LED headlamps with “Thor's Hammer” DRLs, vertical slat grille and LED "tattoo" taillamps. Its dimensions could be a little bigger than the S80's for better road presence and interior space.

The interior will adopt the new XC90's simplistic approach. It is expected that most of the interior functions will be integrated in the large Sensus infotainment display, while the music system gets a separate row of buttons. It is expected to be an “evolution of the XC90’s design”, as Nick Connor, Volvo UK managing director, described to overseas media.

The Volvo S90 will be the second product to be based on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA platform), and will be offered with fuel efficient range of 2.0-liter Drive-E engines that range from 190 hp to 400 hp (T8 Twin Engine Hybrid). It could offer an 8-speed automatic unit as standard across the range.

Volvo confirmed last November that the factory in Daqing, China, would roll out the a "premium sedan," which is almost certainly the Volvo S90 or the Volvo S90L (long wheelbase). Its wagon variant, Volvo V90, according to reports, would subsequently see a market release. Variant extensions such as a Volvo S90 Polestar and Volvo V90 Cross Country could also be worthy of contention later into the lifecycle of the car.

Also Read: Volvo S60 T6 launched in India at INR 42 lakhs

Volvo will likely begin teasing the S90 towards end of this year, and could reveal the model in early 2016.