News Source: topspeed.com

Volvo  first introduced the S90  name in 1996, when it renamed the 960 for certain markets. With Volvo discontinuing the 900 Series midsize in 1998, the 2014 Volvo S80  we know of today rolled in as the replacement for the S90. The S90 also marked the end of an era for Volvo, being the last rear-wheel-drive car wearing the Swedish company’s badge. The S80  continued the S90’s luxurious legacy over the course of two generations. The first series lived between 1998 and 2006, while the second-gen model will be discontinued after nearly a decade on the market. With 2016 just around the corner, Volvo revived the S90 nameplate for a redesigned, more upscale replacement of its range-topping sedan.

Besides taking duties from the S80, the S90 is also set to revolutionize the midsize luxury segment, much like the second-generation XC90  did in the SUV  market. The sedan received the hauler’s design language, along with an interior packed with the latest technology  and luxury items developed by the Swedes. The overhauled sedan  will hit dealerships in the second half of 2016 with an array of gasoline and diesel four-cylinder engines, as well as a hybrid drivetrain.  Find our more about it below.

Updated 12/29/2015: Volvo dropped a new video in which it highlights the interior of its new S90 luxury sedan. Hit "play" to watch it.

I knew that the S90 will be a gorgeous sedan as soon as those Chinese diecast modelcars surfaced the Interwebz, but the real deal looks even better. A radical departure from its predecessor, the S90 uses the same design language as the XC90, which includes both the brand-new grille and the "Thor’s Hammer" LED daytime running lights. Although as slim as the XC90’s, the headlamps sport a simpler shape toward the fenders, giving the sedan a more consistent look. Down below, it gained a sporty bumper with a wide intake and a protruding splitter-like element.

Moving onto the sides, the S90 showcases a sleeker profile due to the coupe-like roofline, notchback style trunk lid and longer rear windows. The sedan kept its predecessor’s high waistline, but received a significantly longer wheelbase. Around back, only the bumper section bears some resemblance to the S80, with everything else being brand-new to the nameplate, including the C-shaped taillights, the clean trunk lid (the license plate recess was moved into the bumper), and the larger "Volvo" lettering between the taillights. Unlike the S80, the S90 has no chrome trim.

As far as dimensions go, the new sedan is a tad larger than its forerunner. The S90 is 4.3 inches longer, 1.1 inches wider, and has a 4.1-inch longer wheelbase. With almost all the extra inches added to the wheelbase, it’s no surprise that the S90 looks sleeker and more upscale than the model it replaces. Needless to say, Volvo’s new mid-size is one hot sedan!

If you fell in love with the XC90’s luxurious cabin then you’ll definitely adore the S90’s. The sedan looks pretty much the same on the inside, with mild revisions made to the dashboard and door panels. The dashboard is a bit slimmer and features larger wood inserts and taller A/C vents on the center stack, but everything else remained unchanged. It also includes the Sensus Connect touchscreen that debuted in the XC90, as well as the clutter-free stack with minimal dashboard buttons.

The center console, the seats, the steering wheel, and the instrument cluster appear to be identical to the XC90’s. More changes are visible on the door panels, but the overall feel remains unchanged from the SUV. And, I’m not saying that the S90 feels like an SUV on the inside, it only looks as cool and luxurious.

Though there aren’t many specs available, the S90 should be roomier than the S80, especially thanks to its longer wheelbase, which will mostly benefit rear-seat passengers. The craftsmanship is remarkable and on par (if not slightly better) with what you can get from Mercedes  -Benz and BMW sedans nowadays. Details are scant, but you should be able to pick between a range of Nappa leather, Alcantara, and wood offerings.

Not surprisingly, the S90 borrows its drivetrains from the XC90 SUV, which debuted many new technologies. Although Volvo has yet to release output figures, it did say that the sedan will become available with the T6 and T5 gasoline engines, the D4 and D5 diesel mills, and the T8 hybrid, all built around 2.0-liter four-cylinder units.

In the U.S., only the T5, T6, and T8 will be offered, while European buyers will get to choose between the D4, D5, T6, and T8.

In the XC90, the turbocharged T5 cranks out 254 horsepower and 258 pound-feet, while the T6, which uses both a turbocharger and a supercharger, generates 316 horses and 295 pound-feet. Moving over to diesels, the D4 is rated at 190 horsepower and 295 pound-feet, while the D5 churns 225 horses and 346 pound-feet. Finally, the T8 hybrid, which pairs a 2.0-liter, turbocharged and supercharged four-banger and a 60-kW (80-horsepower) electric motor connected to the rear axle, is good for 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, while the all-electric range is rated at 25 miles.

Transmission choices include a six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic. The former gets optimized gear sets and final drives for improved fuel economy, while the latter promises to help deliver best-in-class efficiency. The eight-speed gearbox also comes with start-stop technology.

Volvos have always been among the safest cars on the road and the new S90 is no exception. The Swedes even went as far as to claim that the S90 is another step toward its Vision 2020, which states that no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by the year 2020.

Besides the usual airbags for both the driver and front/rear passengers, the sedan comes with numerous safety features as standard. These include Lane Keeping Aid, Driver Alert Control, Road Sign Information, Run-off Road Mitigation, Run-off Road Protection, and the City Safety package. The latter is able to detect vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and large animals and it’s always active above 4 km/h (2.5 mph).

Options include Blind Spot Information, Rear Collision Warning, Cross Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pilot Assist, Distance Alert, Park Assist Pilot and 360-degree camera.

The second-generation Pilot Assist is by far the most interesting feature as it turns the S90 into a semi-autonomous vehicle. When activated, the Pilot Assist system controls acceleration, braking and steering in order to help the driver follow the traffic flow within the current lane. The system reduces driver strain in tedious situations and increases safety, while also delivering enhanced speed and distance keeping in the lane. The system now offers steering assistance functionality up to 130 km/h (80.7 mph). Volvo has yet to announce pricing for the S90, but it should be a tad more expensive than the S80 it replaces. For 2016, the S80 retails from $43,450. Although many details are still under wraps, the S90 is the luxury sedan we’ve been waiting for and the mid-size Volvo needed to better compete with the Germans. It has everything that makes the XC90 a luxurious, safe, and desirable vehicle, but with the allure and sportiness that come with a sedan. Given the immense success it had with the SUV, Volvo  will reach new heights once the S90 arrive in showrooms and give the folks over at Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi one more reason to worry about.