The ultra-popular Volvo XC60 SUV will make room in the lineup for a new electric model, but not before its larger cousin, the XC90, goes through a similar transformation, Volvo CFO Björn Annwall said in an interview to Autocar.
He added that the current ICE-powered XC60 (illustrated here) would continue to be available for some time along with its electric version.
Volvo plans to rename the XC60 with a human-sounding name instead of an alphanumeric index. The same applies to its impending flagship we still know little about. Just what kind of name it will be remains unknown. What we do know is that the successor to the XC60 line will share much in common with the successor of the XC90. For one thing, both will be based on the SPA platform that supports both fully electric and hybrid powertrains.
Rumor has it that the flagship SUV will be called “Embla”. According to Annwall, it will become a test ground of sorts for various technological and manufacturing solutions. Only when the tech becomes affordable enough will the XC60 become viable for mass production – this is why it will have to wait until the XC90 goes electric first.
The newcomers will benefit from advanced autopilot tech based on NVidia software and Luminar radars. The XC60 will become the Swedish marque’s first production car equipped with batteries made at the Volvo-Northvolt JSC factory. A new traction battery plant is currently being designed as well, and is expected to reach full production capacity in four yeas’ time.