The S90, which replaces the slow-selling S80, launches in March and is likely to be joined by a V90, superceding the V70 and XC70, shortly afterwards. It shares its modular platform with the XC90, which launched last year, and thus most of the technology too, and will be looking to conquest customers from the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Jaguar XF.

Engine options include two diesels, one petrol and the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, which produces 403bhp via a combination of turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor driving the rear wheels. In the S90, this will emit 44g/km and return 148mpg on the NEDC for plug-in hybrids, while offering an electric range of around 25 miles.

This has proved popular in the XC90 – a fleet-weighted 25% of customers opt for the plug-in hybrid, steered by its low Benefit in Kind tax. Forward orders are stretching into the 2017 model year in the UK, Volvo said. With no direct rivals at present, the S90 is a unique proposition in the executive segment, particularly if it’s also available in the V90.

Pricing and final fuel consumption figures – likely to be even lower than the preliminary data – will be released at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with ordering beginning the same month.