Volvo intends to become a full-blown EV manufacturer by early 2030s, and electrify half of its production volume by 2025. The third-gen XC90 SUV coming up next year will start a new lineup of all-electric cars, and the Concept Recharge pictured here gives you an idea of what you should expect.
The concept showcases the marque’s new design direction. The wheelbase becomes longer to accommodate a large battery under the floor, the hood is low, and there is a stub where the radiator grille used to be. Many of the other recognizable Volvo details, like the “Thor’s hammer” headlights and vertical taillights, remain in place.
The company says the cars will have up to 1,000 kilometers (619 miles) of range on a single charge. All cars equipped with self-driving systems (this includes the third-gen XC90) will take advantage of LIDAR technology provided by Luminar. Nvidia will supply CPUs, and Volvo’s own Zenseact subdivision founded last year will develop ECU software.
The floor inside the car is completely flat, meaning that designers can arrange the seats, the armrests and the consoles however they want. The infotainment system features a 15-inch touchscreen display and uses the same Android Automotive OS as other recent Volvos.