Upright front is due to pedestrian crash standards. I'm not a slit light fan myself, but I think these are attractive. There's tons of vehicles that have come out recently with large headlights though, even with LED lights.

 

RWD proportioned FWD is sex.

too bad the butt looks ugg

 

wait is that correct in saying it'll have a supercharged option? because that'd be pretty sick to see the supercharger come back... turbo this turbo that, superchargers give that response that no turbo can match.

 

^^^ Turbo and supercharger...

 

yea i know how bout that. i must say though its sad to see that volvo/yamaha V8 be gone, that thing was a sick engine, even got used in the noble M600.

 

Agreed, always a fan of the 4.4L Yamaha V8

 

Liking it. Not sure I will ever be a Volvo owner, but every model they introduce is making me more interested.

 

That "prestige gap" could mean a lot of wasted space behind the engine and in front of the firewall.



The thin, slit-like headlights are the current trend, just as the 4-door coupe / fastback styling and lobster-claw taillights are.

The upright front-end and high hood is for pedestrian crash safety; there has to be empty crush room above the engine to prevent people thrown up onto the hood from hitting the "hard" engine block. I am starting to think that the reason for the long front overhang on Toyota and Lexus FWD vehicles is because of pedestrian crash standards: Instead of having a flat and upright front hood, the Toyota / Lexus FWD-vehicle hood tends to slope down to the grill, so that crush space above the front of the engine block is traded for crush space in front of the engine block.

 

Taillights on the V90, taken from this toy model, which was accurate on the S90, look a little better in my opinion.

 

That impressive dash-to-axle ratio transforms this S90 from looking like an ES competitor to an actual GS competitor. Long flat hood and a cabin that stretches 10 inches rearward compared to the old S80 also helps.

 

This is sadly what Acura deviated from when they switched all their cars to transverse FWD platforms:

 

In case you are not aware of it, both of those vehicles you posted are FWD. In the coupe/sedan range, Acura has never done anything but FWD.

 

He said they are FWD, but they were LONGITUDINALLY mounted engines in a FWD car, similar to Audi today.

Acura's are now all TRANSVERSE mounted.

 

OK....I had a feeling that might be the case, but I wasn't sure. Maybe I should have asked.

That generally makes them easier to base off of mainstream U.S.-market Honda products. No Honda-badged products that i know of (with the Honda name rather than Acura) were ever sold in the U.S. market with longitudinal engines. Of course, some vehicles badged as Acuras in the U.S. were sold overseas as Hondas, like the Legend.

 

I have gotta say, this new Volvo and the upcoming Lincolns with the new front ends really make the spindle design look bad.

Well Done Volvo!!