In-car entertainment is about to get an upgrade with the launch of a new Abbey Road Studios Mode, developed by Bowers & Wilkins, in collaboration with the world’s best known recording studio.
Due to debut in the Volvo EX90 electric SUV in 2025, the technology transforms the car’s cabin into a simulacrum of what you might hear in Abbey Road’s famous studios, emulating the tonality of its bespoke electronics and the nuance of its acoustics.
Bowers & Wilkins, in partnership with Volvo, unveiled the sound mode, at an exclusive preview at the iconic venue, and The Luxe Review was there to enjoy an early demonstration.
The event was headlined by an intimate set from Mercury Prize winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective, playing live in Studio 2. Could this new technology really compare to the sound of a band in full flow?
The Abbey Road Studios sound mode certainly offers driver and passengers a uniquely immersive and customisable sound experience.
At the core of the innovation is a meticulous recreation of Abbey Road’s unique acoustics, from live recording spaces to control rooms. Using precise measurements and modelling techniques, the sound mode replicates the tonality of the studio’s bespoke equipment and the expertise of its engineers.
A ‘Producer’ feature allows users to fine-tune their listening experience with gritty precision. Adjustments can be made to the stereo sound field, acoustic environment, and tonality to replicate EMI-era vintage or modern soundscapes.
Four sonic presets (Intimate, Open, Energised and Expansive) cater to those less inclined to experiment with the Producer mode. There’s also a Custom preset so that you can save their own preferred settings.
Volvo EX90: a cutting-edge audio system
The Abbey Road Studios Mode debuts in the Volvo EX90, which already features one of the most advanced in-car audio systems ever developed by Bowers & Wilkins.
The hardware, fully Dolby Atmos compatible, boasts 25 speakers carefully positioned throughout the cabin. Six Continuum cone midrange drivers and five Nautilus Double-dome tweeters are complemented by eight aluminium-domed headrest and ceiling speakers. The central Tweeter-on-Top on the dashboard is inspired by Bowers & Wilkins’ flagship 800 Series Diamond speakers.
The Abbey Road Studios mode listening experience itself is extraordinary, and will most likely eclipse many home-based stereo systems. Vocals are nuanced and natural, imaging far wider than seems possible given the confines of the automotive space, and bass is profound.
How close does the mode come to replicating the DNA of the real thing? Speaking to Abbey Road engineers on the night, “very” was their verdict.
Bowers & Wilkins partnership with Abbey Road Studios began in 1980 when the studio adopted the brand’s iconic 801 loudspeakers. Today, Abbey Road continues to use Bowers & Wilkins’ 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers. Few people will ever hear these high-end beasts in situ – but perhaps the Abbey Road Studios Mode is the next best thing?
The Abbey Road Studios Mode will be available in the Volvo EX90 via a free over-the-air software update in 2025 for all models equipped with Bowers & Wilkins sound systems.
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The Luxe Review 
In-car entertainment is about to get an upgrade with the launch of a new Abbey Road Studios Mode, developed by Bowers & Wilkins, in collaboration with the world’s best known recording studio.
Due to debut in the Volvo EX90 electric SUV in 2025, the technology transforms the car’s cabin into a simulacrum of what you might hear in Abbey Road’s famous studios, emulating the tonality of its bespoke electronics and the nuance of its acoustics.
Bowers & Wilkins, in partnership with Volvo, unveiled the sound mode, at an exclusive preview at the iconic venue, and The Luxe Review was there to enjoy an early demonstration.
The event was headlined by an intimate set from Mercury Prize winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective, playing live in Studio 2. Could this new technology really compare to the sound of a band in full flow?
The Abbey Road Studios sound mode certainly offers driver and passengers a uniquely immersive and customisable sound experience.
At the core of the innovation is a meticulous recreation of Abbey Road’s unique acoustics, from live recording spaces to control rooms. Using precise measurements and modelling techniques, the sound mode replicates the tonality of the studio’s bespoke equipment and the expertise of its engineers.
A ‘Producer’ feature allows users to fine-tune their listening experience with gritty precision. Adjustments can be made to the stereo sound field, acoustic environment, and tonality to replicate EMI-era vintage or modern soundscapes.
Four sonic presets (Intimate, Open, Energised and Expansive) cater to those less inclined to experiment with the Producer mode. There’s also a Custom preset so that you can save their own preferred settings.
Volvo EX90: a cutting-edge audio system
The Abbey Road Studios Mode debuts in the Volvo EX90, which already features one of the most advanced in-car audio systems ever developed by Bowers & Wilkins.
The hardware, fully Dolby Atmos compatible, boasts 25 speakers carefully positioned throughout the cabin. Six Continuum cone midrange drivers and five Nautilus Double-dome tweeters are complemented by eight aluminium-domed headrest and ceiling speakers. The central Tweeter-on-Top on the dashboard is inspired by Bowers & Wilkins’ flagship 800 Series Diamond speakers.
The Abbey Road Studios mode listening experience itself is extraordinary, and will most likely eclipse many home-based stereo systems. Vocals are nuanced and natural, imaging far wider than seems possible given the confines of the automotive space, and bass is profound.
How close does the mode come to replicating the DNA of the real thing? Speaking to Abbey Road engineers on the night, “very” was their verdict.
Bowers & Wilkins partnership with Abbey Road Studios began in 1980 when the studio adopted the brand’s iconic 801 loudspeakers. Today, Abbey Road continues to use Bowers & Wilkins’ 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers. Few people will ever hear these high-end beasts in situ – but perhaps the Abbey Road Studios Mode is the next best thing?
The Abbey Road Studios Mode will be available in the Volvo EX90 via a free over-the-air software update in 2025 for all models equipped with Bowers & Wilkins sound systems.
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Bentley has expanded its long-running partnership with Naim by introducing a new flagship in-car system, Naim for Mulliner, across a dedicated Virtuoso Collection of models. Developed from the ultra-exclusive system first created for the Bentley Batur, the new collaboration now brings the same studio-grade listening experience to the Bentley Continental GT, Bentley Continental GTC and…
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High-end headphone design rarely strays far from established norms, but Écoute Audio is taking a different route with its TH1. These £900 wireless headphones attempt something unusual: translating the architecture of classic audiophile Hi-Fi into a wearable form. At first glance, they look like a premium pair of over-ears. Look closer, and it becomes clear…
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