Error saw images of existing seven-seater wagon’s new look shared, but the EX90 still stays hidden.

ONE of two Volvos subject to a world premiere later this week has already been inadvertently revealed by the a distributor in Europe.

Media in Europe and the United Kingdom have been quick to exploit the error which saw images of the updated Volvo XC90 shared early on social media by Volvo Car Switzerland.

The pictures were only on the site for a short time, but in that period were shared widely.

The Geely-owned Sino-Swede has still managed to keep a cloak of secrecy over its second car to be revealed on September 5 at at event it is calling 90/90.

The EX90 is the more important product , being the make’s first full electric seven seater. The general look is already known - Volvo shared the picture of the here in March - but a lot of detail in respect to its technology and fit out remains secret.

EX90 (below) is the more vital product. It is also a larger and more luxurious car than the XC90, which will step down from holding flagship status when the EX hits the market.

For New Zealand, that’s likely to be in early 2025.

At one time, it seemed likely EX90 would be a complete replacement for XC90, but with electrics having started to lose pace in global markets, there has been a rethink.

That will doubtless come as a relief to Volvo NZ, which has seen the NZ new EV market drop 74 percent year on year at a time when it has been trying to gain traction with the EX30, a small EV that, in the good times, would have likely become a decent volume-earner. Instead, the EX30 is just another technologically-promising EV fighting for every sale.

The XC90’s refresh delivers interior tech upgrades and a cleaner, more modern exterior look. Styling changes include a new wider grille with a fresh design, but there is still a large Volvo badge in the centre. 

The ‘Thor’s Hammer’ daytime running lights seem to be sharper than before and the headlights themselves are slimmer, plus the front bumper has been redesigned. 

The rear of the XC90 doesn’t appear to have received any major changes, according to reports.

Importantly, the leaked images do show the interior will feature a new dashboard incorporating a larger central touchscreen running Volvo’s latest Google-powered infotainment software. 

It appears the steering wheel and centre console design have also been updated, but the facelifted XC90 will still feature a few physical buttons and a volume dial on the dash.

Volvo has already made clear XC90 will from now on only be available with hybrid power, and expectation is that this will be the existing T8 plug-in powertrain, which consists of a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine and one electric motor, powered by a 19kWh battery. 

The setup offers all-wheel drive and a combined power output of 335kW and presently delivers a pure-electric range of around 70 kilometres. There is conjecture Volvo has increased the EV range for the facelifted car, probably with a larger battery.