Volvo confirms 5 new electric models and 2 new PHEVs

Volvo Cars has provided insights into its model planning at a dealer conference in the USA. Battery-electric cars dominate the lineup. However, the Swedish company also plans to launch two new plug-in hybrids.

Volvo was one of the first carmakers to focus on an electrified model range. However, with the planned phase-out of the internal combustion engine in 2030 – and the associated switch to a pure electric vehicle brand – Volvo is somewhat slower than other brands. Jaguar, for example, plans to switch to exclusively selling BEVs as early as 2025.

But since Volvo is sticking with the hybrid until the end of the decade, the Swedish company is once again updating their lineup: As reported by Automotive News, the manufacturer announced a total of seven electrified models last week at a dealer conference in Miami in front of around 800 attendees. Of these, two will also be plug-in hybrids.

As the trade portal writes with reference to conference topics, the two PHEVs are said to be “redesigned versions of the S90 and XC90 plug-in hybrids.” Thus, it should remain with the basically familiar hybrid layout with the two-litre gasoline engine, but with a new battery and higher electric range.

In addition, some of the BEV models have been confirmed or concretized: In addition to the all-electric successor to the Volvo XC90, which will probably be called Embla, and a new electric crossover developed under the code name V546, which will sit between the XC60 and XC90, an all-electric successor to the XC60 and a new electric model below the XC40 are also planned.

An entry-level model, possibly called the XC20, has been under discussion for some time, and the current head of Volvo, Hakan Samuelsson, has spoken out about the vehicle several times. It is likely to be based on Geely’s SEA platform. However, Volvo has not yet shown any designs for the vehicle.

The now confirmed electric successor to the XC60 is also interesting: Due to the electric crossover V546, it was unclear whether there would also be an electric SUV in the format of the XC60. This could also be related to the possible orientation of the V546: As reported by the German publication Auto, Motor und Sport, the electric crossover could be flatter and become a kind of higher-slung station wagon. According to the report, the V546 is not intended to compete against the two electric SUVs of the size of the XC60 or XC90, but rather to replace the two station wagon models V60 and V90. Volvo already offers a higher ‘Cross County’ version of the V90.

autonews.com (Paywall), carscoops.com, auto-motor-und-sport.de (in German, V546)