Pilot Assist II to Come as Standard in 2017 Volvo XC90

In a quest to update the 2017 XC90, Volvo has recently announced the inclusion of its latest step towards autonomous driving—the Pilot Assist II. This will come as standard equipment on the SUV in select markets and will also be mirrored on the S90 sedan.

Adding steering resistance to adaptive cruise control, Pilot Assist II creates a semi-autonomous highway driving system that—just like Tesla’s Autopilot system—controls steering, braking, and acceleration to follow traffic flow within the lane on well-marked highways. The beauty of the system is that it can operate at speeds up to 81 mph (120 km/h) and does not need a lead car as have other Volvo systems in development.

The system can be overridden anytime, by deactivating cruise control with the cancel/off button or brake or by turning the steering wheel or accelerating. The system also deactivates when the steering wheel is let go for a few seconds. However, the use of the turn signal and wheel to make the lane change does not override Pilot Assist II.

The PowerPulse is also another new addition to the diesel variant of the 2017 XC90. This aims to eliminate the turbo lag found in most diesel engines by adding a pressurized two-liter air tank and an electric compressor to the powertrain. The fresh air that comes into the vehicle through its air filter is compressed and stored in the tank. When the throttle is pressed for quick acceleration, the compressed air is released into the exhaust manifold to rapidly spool the turbo for immediate boosting.

There is also a new update for Volvo’s City Safety. This standard collision avoidance system, including small vehicle and pedestrian avoidance, is now updated to include large animals.

All the updates being made to the new XC90 will also appear in the V90 wagon and S90 sedan.