Volvo is finally going to replace its popular XC90, possibly the best family-oriented SUV the world has ever seen, with an all-new model next year. They are not ready yet to tell us about the way it looks or the convenience features that it has, but they can reveal the new safety equipment that mark the new XC90 aside from its rivals.

As with every other modern car, the safety kit in the XC90 uses a bewildering array of sensors, cameras and radars, and they are all interlinked and work in tandem with each other to be more effective.

The 2014 XC90 will boast a new application of Volvo’s object detection and auto brake technology which vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and animals in daylight and in the dark. They didn’t have the best of luck with this system before. It embarrassed Volvo in front of the world’s press twice when it failed to stop the car in time to avoid the collision. Let’s hope they finally got the hang of it.

Another notable new feature is the road edge and barrier detection with steer assist. You know how in computer games the system does the steering for you? This works in pretty much the same way. If it feels the is about to drive off the road and autonomously applies steering torque to bring the vehicle back on track. And it doesn’t even need the side markings. it just knows where the physical road ends!

The car’s new Adaptive Cruise Control also benefits from the steer assist system to keep the vehicle between the lines as it follows the car in front.

The 2014 Volvo XC90 will also get the firm’s Autonomous Parking technology that allows a car to find and park in a vacant space by itself, allowing the driver to leave the vehicle at the entrance to the car park. It is a concept system for the moment, but it’s been tested with positive results in the real world. So it’s a just a matter of time.