New ‘flagship’ SUV may be missing key tech features when it launches… despite £96k price tag
A NEW “flagship” SUV from a major manufacturer could reportedly be missing key tech when it launches despite a £96,000 price tag.
The brand behind the model has said that the gadgets would be added in future.
According to Autocar, the upcoming Volvo EX90 may not initially come with promised upgrades, including “some safety functions”.
The seven-seater is set to hit UK showrooms in October, but it seems the full spec won’t be available for a little while afterwards.
The report suggests that some of the advanced driver assistance (ADA) systems won’t be present in the first deliveries.
It is expected that drivers will not have access to the system that automatically hits the brakes if a hazard is detected at a junction.
Luxuries are also set to be affected, with Apple CarPlay initially unavailable.
Customer satisfaction and product quality remain our top priorities
Volvo
And the EV won’t be able to make use of smart charging, bi-directional charging or the “plug and charge” prepayment system at first.
Even when the car isn’t being used, the issues mean that it could drain as much as 3% of its battery every 24 hours up to a 72-hour limit while parked.
Volvo has insisted that the missing features will be added “later via an update”, with UK customers contacted about their specific order.
However, no date for this has been given and the car’s £96,225 price tag is expected to remain intact.
A spokesperson said: “The Volvo EX90 is a very exciting product representing the start of a new era for the company and introduces a new generation of technology – hardware and software
“Introducing a new generation of technology comes with inherent challenges and we need additional time in software integration to release a few missing features and functionalities, and prepare for continuous improvement.
“The EX90 is designed to become better over time, and customers can expect updates and upgrades that will improve functionality and add features to their car.
“Customer satisfaction and product quality remain our top priorities as we start deliveries of our new fully electric flagship SUV.”
It comes just weeks after Volvo began issuing refunds to customers after software issues blighted another one of its SUV models.
CEO Jim Rowan added: “The whole point of a software-defined vehicle that has over-the-air update capabilities is to continually upgrade that software. We can do that.
“I think that customers who invest in advanced technology products like the EX90 understand this fully and they will reap the benefits over time.”