GQ South Africa — May 2017

NEW CARS

Words byDieter Losskarn

VOLVO

S90 D4

cmhvolvocars.co.za

0-100km in 8.2

seconds; top speed

230km/h

PERFORMANCE

4.4 l/100km

CLAIMED FUEL BASE PRICE

R727 500

2.0-l. turbo diesel

and petrol

140kW and 400Nm

POWER

50 GQ.CO.ZA MAY 2017

SWEDISH

LIMO

NAILS IT

The luxury Volvo S90

proves that safe can

be sexy too

V

olvo’s revival and reinvention

under Chinese rule was kick-

started in 2014 with the fabulous

XC90. Based on the super cooled SU V, the

new S90 business limo continues the

carmaker’s success.

My i rst impression is that it’s a really

beautiful car. h e S90 is understated with

distinct Scandinavian lines. h e headlight

design referencing h or’s hammer is

unique, and the 23 metal rips in the

concave grille are reminiscent of the iconic

P1800. h e S90 blows a fresh Northern

wind into the executive sedan segment

dominated by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class

and BMW 5 Series.

For decades Volvo lived by the motto

‘better safe than sexy’. While the S90 is

indeed attractive, drivers need not worry

that safety has been af ected as the car is

packed with driver assist programmes.

With the S90 sedan and V90 wagon, Volvo

became the i rst carmaker to score a full six

points in the

Autonomous

Emergency Braking

for Pedestrians test

procedure – plus

i ve-star ratings for

both cars. h e

results surpassed

the best overall

score of any model

tested in 2016 and

now make Euro

NCAP’s top three

best performing

cars all Volvos.

My conclusion

then? h e Swedes

are safe and sexy.

To prove it I drove

the S90 diesel and

petrol up and

down the winding

Franschhoek pass.

In the diesel there

is a slight hesitation

while overtaking

uphill, but

otherwise the four-cylinders perform well. h e all-wheel

drive makes the car stick like wet snow to an unwaxed ski.

With its two money-makers in place, I am optimistic that

Volvo will soon be embracing its heritage. Next, take a look at

the breathtaking Concept Coupe (pictured top left) which

reintroduces the P1800 (1961-1973) in a contemporary guise.

C’mon h or, hammer this one out.

The S90’s iconic

Thor’s hammer

LED headlights

Find more new

cars to drool

over at

GQ.co.za