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Volvo teases refreshed XC90, EX90 updates and 'a surprise or two'

Volvo will show the world the updated XC90 crossover on what the company is calling "90/90" day, which to the rest of us is simply September 4th. The day will also "mark a big moment in the launch of the EX90," which accounts for the second "90." But what's far more interesting was the cryptic teaser Volvo tacked onto the end of its announcement, suggesting that "there might be a surprise or two …" in store for us too. Well, then.  The announcement was accompanied by an equally cryptic teaser image that appears to depict the hoods of the EX90 (top/right) and XC90 (bottom/left). There's not much to see here apart from the differentiating hood creases and some details in the headlights. From what we can make out, the updated XC90 will have a different take on the "Thor's Hammer" LED signature. Anything else is merely speculation. While Volvo hasn't officially put a sunset date on the XC90, we expect this will be the last major update before it is put out to pasture in favor of its all-electric sibling. The writing has been on the wall since Volvo originally unveiled the EX90 in 2022.  As for Volvo's surprises? We're not really sure what to expect. With the EX30 launch dragging on much longer than expected, Volvo is unlikely to be in a position to announce any major new product introductions for the U.S. market. We can't rule out the possibility of some Polestar Engineered variants of existing models; Volvo has already demonstrated a willingness to offer them on crossovers, so why stop now? In any event, we've only about a week to wait. Plus, you'll be able to watch the whole thing live on Volvo's 90/90 Day microsite. 

Volvo will start testing wireless charging with XC40 taxis

Volvo announced it will start testing wireless charging systems with its Volvo XC40 Recharge electric SUVs. It's doing so by creating a small fleet of XC40 Recharge taxis for Cabonline, the largest cab operation in the Nordic nations. The testing in Volvo's hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden, will last for three years, and Volvo notes that the driving conditions will involve 12 hours a day of driving with cars racking up 100,000 kilometers (about 62,000 miles) per year. The charging stations come from American company Momentum Dynamics. They're embedded into the pavement of the Volvos' parking spaces and begin charging automatically when parked correctly (which is aided by the on-board surround-view camera). The charging speed is 40-kW, which is close to the maximum charging speed of many electric cars' on-board chargers when connected to a DC station. Interestingly, Momentum Dynamics lists systems capable of charging speeds as high as 450 kW on its website. Volvo did not make any announcements regarding future availability of wireless charging. We would imagine the results of this testing will affect whether the company intends to make it a factory offering. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

A spotter's guide to Super Bowl LIV car commercials

Set to kick off on Fox at 6:30 ET on Sunday, February 2, from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, the big game will feature the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. Throughout Super Bowl LIV, viewers will see about 50 commercials, each of which costs as much as $5.6 million per 30 seconds, according to AdWeek. Originally, there were more than 77 ad slots, so several companies could be paying well more than $10 million for a single, longer commercial. Numerous car companies have already announced their commercials, or their intentions to show commercials, during the game. Here's a roundup of the ones we know about so far. During the game on Sunday, we'll be livestreaming and adding links to the new commercials as they become available, so check back with us for that post.  Audi: E-Tron Sportback Maisie Williams has experience wearing many faces, and in Audi's Super Bowl commercial, she does her best Elsa impression. In the spot, titled "Let It Go," Williams faces the rigorous task of getting through L.A. traffic, but she's alleviated by the comfort of the Audi E-Tron Sportback electric crossover. The commercial is meant to signal the company leaving its gas past behind and moving forward to a sustainable future.  Genesis: GV80 Genesis makes its Super Bowl debut with a commercial that will show its all-new SUV, the GV80, to viewers around the world (many of which will be seeing the vehicle for the first time). The ad features Chrissy Teigen and John Legend as the purveyors of "new luxury," while "old luxury" is left for the birds. GMC: Hummer General Motors is bringing back the Hummer nameplate as a premium electric GMC truck. GM says it will have 1,000 horsepower and will be capable of going zero to 60 mph in three seconds. GM brought in NBA legend and Hummer fanboy LeBron James for the debut commercial. Hyundai: Sonata Hyundai is known for bringing in the big-time celebrities for its commercials, and 2020 is no different. A new advertisement called "Smaht Pahk" features John Krasinski, Chris Evans, and Rachel Dratch, all three of whom are from the Boston area. The trio gets into full character as they discuss the new high-tech parking feature on the redesigned 2020 Hyundai Sonata, and David Ortiz makes a cameo at the end. Even when New England isn't in the Super Bowl, New England is in the Super Bowl.