Volvo has unveiled its forthcoming EX90 seven-seat electric SUV; its longest-range, safest, most advanced and highest-priced model yet.

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Revealed today from a livestreamed event in Stockholm, it spearheads not just a new range of electric vehicles but also new technology services and features.

“The Volvo EX90 is our vision of a large family SUV in the electric age,” said Jim Rowan, chief executive at the carmaker. “Born electric and software-defined, it demonstrates what future Volvo cars will stand for in terms of safety, technology, sustainability, design and creating a more personal experience for every customer.”

It’s effectively a replacement to the current XC90, rivalling the Tesla Model X, Mercedes EQS SUV and BMW iX, and kickstarting the brand’s plans to reveal one new fully electric car each year in the run-up to its 2030 deadline to sell only fully electric cars and shift sales online.

The EX90 sits at the top of these new EVs, joining the existing XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge EVs but built on a brand-new Geely Group Scalable Product Architecture (SPA2), which will also underpin the Polestar 3 SUV.

It initially launches with a twin-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, delivering 408hp and 770Nm of torque for the standard version or 517hp and 910Nm for the Performance model.

Prices start at £96,255 or £100,555 for the Performance, but lower-powered models are due later.

Both launch versions are powered by a 111kWh battery, delivering up to 373 miles (600km) of driving range and able to be charged at up to 250kW, giving a 10 to 80% capacity in under 30 minutes.

Volvo will also make bi-directional charging available in the future, as part of its energy management offer, enabling drivers to use the battery to power the home or external devices – or even another electric Volvo car to help out a stranded driver. Customers may even be able to sell energy back to the grid in the future, providing revenue-generating opportunities while helping to stabilise the grid.

The EX90 will also support Plug and Charge, once available; enabling drivers to simply plug into a compatible public charger and start charging automatically, with payment taken care of as well.

The EX90 will also offer a wider ecosystem of services and features, thanks to the brand’s most advanced technology in core computing and connectivity. Volvo says the EX90 won’t be just a new car, it will be “a highly advanced computer on wheels” – one that can also be enhanced with regular over-the-air software updates.

The infotainment system uses Snapdragon’s Cockpit platform, said to give “lightning-fast computing power and high-quality graphics” on the in-car screens and head-up display.

The 14.5-inch centre screen for the infotainment system also features Google built in, with integrated apps and services, including hands-free help from Google Assistant, Google Maps navigation and apps on Google Play. The Volvo EX90 will also be compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 5G connection will be standard.

Thanks to its high-performance core computers and camera, radar and lidar sensor tech, the EX90 also provides “an invisible shield of safety”. It’s able to pick up on distracted, drowsy or otherwise inattentive drivers far more than existing Volvos, provide alerts and, if need be, brake to a stop and call for help.

It’s also the first Volvo that’s hardware-ready for unsupervised, fully autonomous driving in the future.

Production will begin in the USA in 2023 and later also in China – both facilities are scheduled to be climate-neutral when the EX90 comes onboard.

Sales are expected to start next year and Volvo will also push ahead with its plans to adopt new approaches to ownership, including online sales, subscriptions and leasing. First UK customer deliveries are expected to arrive in Q1 2024.