Volvo EX90 Dolby Atmos support has officially arrived. As part of a new over-the-air software update announced on August 26, Volvo Cars is bringing Spatial Audio to Apple CarPlay in the EX90, powered by Dolby Atmos technology and the car’s optional Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system. The same update also introduces four new Connected Safety alerts across the EX90 and EX60 lineup, making this one of Volvo’s more significant software pushes of the year.
What Volvo EX90 Dolby Atmos brings to the cabin
The headline feature for audio enthusiasts is Spatial Audio support in Apple CarPlay, enabled by Dolby Atmos. Volvo says the experience is built around the EX90’s Bowers & Wilkins system, which includes 25 high-performance speakers positioned throughout the cabin, including a Tweeter-on-Top unit mounted on the dashboard for a taller, more precise soundstage. Rather than the traditional stereo image, Volvo EX90 Dolby Atmos playback spreads music, vocals and ambience around the car in a multi-dimensional soundstage, so a favourite track, a live recording or a podcast gains noticeably more depth and separation than standard CarPlay audio.
Spatial Audio in CarPlay requires the Bowers & Wilkins sound system, which is available as an option when ordering the Volvo EX60, EX90 or ES90, though the Dolby Atmos-powered CarPlay feature itself is rolling out specifically to the EX90 with this update. Owners of EX90 models already fitted with the Bowers & Wilkins system won’t need to visit a dealer, since the feature ships as part of Volvo’s regular over-the-air update cycle.
Four new Connected Safety alerts
Audio isn’t the only part of this update. Volvo’s Connected Safety system, first launched in 2016, uses real-time data shared between cars to warn drivers of hazards ahead. The August update adds four new alert types: a Large Animal Alert for animals detected near the road, a Vulnerable Road User Alert for pedestrians and cyclists near highways, a Roadwork Alert for detected construction zones, and an Accident Ahead Alert built on data from connected Volvo vehicles and traffic management centres.
These join existing alerts like Slippery Road and Hazard Light warnings, and are aimed at giving drivers earlier notice in low-visibility situations such as winding roads or poor weather. Volvo says more than a million of its cars have now activated Connected Safety, and through the European Data for Road Safety ecosystem, alert data can also reach vehicles from other manufacturers and national traffic centres.
“Every time a Volvo car shares safety intelligence, it helps other drivers prepare earlier to avoid accidents and feel safer,” said Åsa Haglund, head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre.
Availability
The new Connected Safety features will roll out to the Volvo EX60, EX90 and ES90 in Europe, the US and Canada, though timing may vary by model. The Volvo EX90 Dolby Atmos CarPlay experience arrives as part of the same rollout. Volvo was recently recognised by S&P Global Mobility as the only legacy carmaker to reach Level 5 capability in software-defined cars, and this update is another example of the company pushing new features to existing vehicles over time rather than reserving them for future model years. For owners, that means the car in the driveway keeps gaining capability long after purchase, without a trip to the dealership.
For a closer look at how Volvo and Bowers & Wilkins have paired up on in-car audio, and how the approach compares to other premium automotive audio partnerships, see our coverage of the Aston Martin and Bowers & Wilkins collaboration. Full details on this update are available in Volvo’s official press release.
