Great on paper and in the metal

VOLVO EX90: DRIVE SMOOTH AND REFINED AS EXPECTED

- Mark Jones

The Citizen Motoring were invited down to Cape Town for the launch of the all-new Volvo EX90 where the official hash tag for the event, #restartwithvolvo.

It not only hinted at an event that promised some clarity on a survival strategy from a small volume, premium, niche brand in this country. But also promised some meaningful driving exposure to what is a very impressive car on paper and in the metal.

But I got this wrong, because for a motoring journalist, this event did little more than deliver up frustration expertly dressed up as glitzy lifestyle set within the beautiful winelands of Stellenbosch.

The business presentations were brief and there was no general Q&A session afterwards to talk product or address the rumours that more than half of the existing Volvo dealers are allegedly going to be closed in an aggressive restructuring programme.

I had no real problem with this. I was there to drive, and we could talk business later, or so I thought.

I had the thought of getting behind the wheel of a high-tech 380kW/910Nm, battery powered, full electric, SUV that is claimed to get from 0-100km/h in just 4.9 seconds on what are some of the best roads in the country to look forward to. Except that this too was about to fall flat.