With Volvo's positively unbricklike styling and a long-awaited product blitz aimed at segments where it feels it can compete, it's easy to forget that the S90 nameplate, bestowed upon its fairly large sedan that debuted in Gothenburg this week, is not entirely new. The very first S90 sedan appeared as a blip on the radar in the 1990s along with the V90 station wagon. You've probably seen kids from private schools being picked up in those, sporting lacrosse emblems on the tailgate before those became a redundant item to affix to a V90 -- it was just assumed they carried lacrosse equipment and/or golf bags.

But as this week's debut proves, the very first S90 was not an aberration -- Volvo had been thinking about a large luxury sedan for some time, even though the S80 that in 1999 tried to position itself between the midsize luxury sedans like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5-Series, and the S-Class along with the 7-Series, did not quite hit the mark despite being a sales success.

So where did the original S90 come from? The answer, of course, is the old 900-Series, specifically the 960 model that was already old by the time the S90 nameplate came about as the Swedish automaker renamed its lineup in 1997.

The S90 Executive Royal featured a longer wheelbase and a center console for the rear passengers. Volvo

The 940 and 960 debuted for the 1991 model year, intending to replace the remarkably similar-looking 700-Series range that had been around since 1984. Like the 700-Series, the 900 adopted vaguely American proportions and styling. As the 960 was the replacement for the 760, that meant this was the six-cylinder model, with the 960 making use of the new 24-valve inline-six, at least in the top-tier import markets. In reality, the range of engines that the 960 received differed widely by market, with some using 2.0-liter engines.

By the time the S90 and V90 nomenclature was applied to North American-market cars starting in late 1996, the model had already been facelifted once for 1995, gaining a slightly more regal front fascia, as well as body-colored bumpers (at last). The 1997 model year was the first for the S90, and even though performance-wise it could be compared to armored versions of the E-Class, the S90 boasted an impressive number of features.

The 2.9-liter inline-six was the sole engine for the 1997 and 1998 model years in the U.S., with the unit producing 181 hp at 5,200 rpm and 199 lb-ft of torque at 4,100 rpm. A four-speed automatic transmission was the only gearbox offered, as you've probably guessed by now, and given the car's 3,461-pound weight, the acceleration numbers were nothing to write home about.

Nevertheless, the S90 was rated at 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway -- not bad given the embarrassing figures still returned by domestic sedans in the days of cheap gas.

The S90 Royal and Royal Hermes models offered an even plusher interior, along with the extra rear-seat space. Volvo

The S90 and its wagon sibling featured a a MacPherson-type front suspension, with a multilink suspension in the back with a composite single-leaf spring. The sedan and the wagon had disc brakes all around, with the wagon offering the option of Nivomat self-leveling shock absorbers.

What set the S90 apart for the last two models years (aside from the dated styling) was the impressive list of luxury and safety features, with the S90 and V90 duo serving as almost a caricature of the bricklike Volvo tanks, complete with a hefty curb weight and doors that shut with the thunk of Brink's trucks.

On the inside, the S90 offered such luxuries as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and eight-way adjustable front seats (arguably the best part of the interior) for the driver and passenger, as well as a sliding and tilting glass sunroof. U.S. models offered driver and passenger airbags, side-impact airbags courtesy of Volvo's Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) and seat belts with pretensioners. Daytime running lights were standard on the S90, in addition to Scandinavian features such as fog lights with wipers and washers, as well as a rear fog light.

The ultimate versions of the S90 were the six-door and four-door limousines by Nilsson, which were favored by embassies and luxury hotels. Jay Ramey

Even though the S90 could be seen as the-last-of-the-line model before much sleeker bodywork debuted in the plush S80, Volvo appears to have had greater aspirations for its largest saloon during its last few years of production.

In other markets, Volvo offered long-wheelbase versions of the S90 sedan dubbed S90 Executive, as well as the S90 Royal Hermes. The latter featured a Hermes leather interior, as well as re-engineered rear doors and C-pillar, with the model aimed at maximizing legroom and comfort for rear passengers. The coachbuilder Nilsson also offered limousines based on the Volvo S90, in four-door and six-door form.

All of these models debuted during the last years of production for the 960/S90, and were quite popular with the diplomatic corps of various countries. Volvo cars were seen as low-key alternatives to the usual German fare, and the S90 and its stretched variants were able to undercut the Germans in price on just about every occasion, offering almost as much room as the W140 S-Class without the price or the thirsty V8 engine.

It's easy to see why these became a favorite of Eurocrats and embassy motor pools, while signaling Volvo's ambition to field competition for the German marques in the luxury-sedan segment.

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