Volvo recently unveiled its groundbreaking Abbey Road Studios Mode. Developed by Bowers & Wilkins in collaboration with London’s Abbey Road Studios, this advanced listening mode brings the iconic sound of the world’s most legendary recording studio directly to your Volvo EX90 driving experience.
Written by Anja Van Der Borght
Text by Anja Van Der Borght
“Electric cars are changing the way we listen to or experience music,” says David Holecek, Director of Digital Experience at Volvo Cars. “They’re much quieter, so we don’t have to work as hard to suppress engine noise. However, this also means passengers become more critical of what they hear and experience. The nuances come through much more clearly in an electric car, which is an important perspective. We’re also seeing new trends, especially in China, where people use their car as a ‘third space.’ It’s a place beyond their home and workplace where they might have lunch and relax, stepping away from everything. Naturally, an outstanding audio experience makes a world of difference.”
A Unique Sonic Identity
Volvo answers this demand with the Abbey Road Studios Mode, debuting in the Volvo EX90’s model update next spring. This mode delivers a revolutionary audio experience, capturing the unique sonic identity of the legendary music studio that has hosted some of the greatest artists in history.
“In Studio 2 alone, The Beatles recorded 190 of their 211 tracks,” explains Jeremy Huffelmann, General Manager at Abbey Road. “It’s also where Pink Floyd recorded Dark Side of the Moon, an album that remained on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 for over 14 years. Countless artists have worked in Studio 2, including Oasis, Radiohead, Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, and Sam Fender. Abbey Road is where artists create music that resonates globally. This tradition of innovation began in 1931 when Abbey Road, then EMI Studios, opened as the world’s first purpose-built recording studio. This heritage of groundbreaking sound continues today and is embodied in the ‘Abbey Road Sound.’”
Producer Mode
Bowers & Wilkins, a longtime provider of speakers for Abbey Road Studios and more recently Volvo vehicles, aimed to transfer the iconic Abbey Road sound to car audio systems. The Abbey Road Studios Mode combines real acoustic measurements from Abbey Road’s live rooms and control rooms with the studio’s unique equipment and expertise.
In Producer Mode, the central display of the EX90 features a curved slider, allowing users to explore various acoustic dimensions. Sliding the control adjusts the perceived size of the listening space, ranging from a small, soundproof control room to a vast area like Studio 2. Moving the slider left or right changes the sound from vintage and unique to modern, simulating different eras of Abbey Road recording methods. Users can also adjust stereo separation like a sound engineer. For convenience, there are four preset sound profiles: Intimate, Open, Energised, and Expansive. Custom settings can be saved as personalized presets.
Studio environments, equipment, and techniques are digitally recreated to deliver an authentic listening experience. This digital recreation of the studio not only provides genuine sound but also offers an opportunity to experience your favorite music in an entirely new way.
On the Move
The advanced Bowers & Wilkins surround system with the Abbey Road Studios Mode features 25 high-performance speakers strategically placed throughout the vehicle. Utilizing Bowers & Wilkins technologies such as Nautilus™ double-dome tweeters, Continuum™ midrange speakers, and the Tweeter-on-Top design, the system delivers music with precision and clarity, staying entirely true to the artist’s intent. The unique Abbey Road Studios Mode allows you to replicate the stunning sound, spaces, and equipment of the world-famous studio, even while on the move.
Dolby Atmos further enhances the experience with a three-dimensional soundscape, positioning sounds individually around the listener. We had the opportunity to test the system in a Volvo EX90 in the front garden of Abbey Road Studios in London and were thoroughly impressed by the immersive audio experience it offers—from the intimate nuances of a studio control room to the larger, open atmosphere of a live studio. Never before have we experienced such crystal-clear audio quality in a car—not with the Burmester High-End 4D Surround Sound System from Mercedes, nor with the Bespoke Audio System from Rolls-Royce.
The Abbey Road Studios Mode will be introduced via an over-the-air update starting in week 21 as part of the next model year launch of the Volvo EX90. The Bowers & Wilkins audio system, including the Abbey Road Studios Mode, is priced at €3,100.
Availability and Pricing
The Abbey Road Studios Mode will be introduced in the Volvo EX90 via an over-the-air update starting in week 21 as part of the next model year update. The Bowers & Wilkins audio system, including Abbey Road Studios Mode, is priced at €3,100.
