► Volvo boss confirms new baby crossover
► XC20 or XC30 will be all-electric from launch
► First details ahead of launch in 2023 onwards
Volvo is working on another new crossover SUV. The new baby SUV will sit below the XC40 and C40 and, like those two, will be electric.
The brand is well aware that, in the current market landscape, coupes only sell if they're also crossovers. That's why it's coupe-fied the XC40 with the new C40. Same story with a supermini.
So, given the marque wants to enter the B-segment, it'll have to do so with a cute crossover. This baby SUV is expected to be electric-only from its launch, with either XC20 or XC30 badging, in order to be in line with the brand's plan to be fully-electric by 2030.
Volvo's electric plans explained
That makes sense, as Volvo already has a solid base for its electric cars, first seen on the XC40 Recharge. With this new small crossover, designed to compete with the Ford Puma, Vauxhall Mokka e and Peugeot e-2008, expect it to have just one e-motor for front-wheel drive – unlike the XC40 and C40. As for range, Henrik Green, Volvo's CTO, is frustrated by current battery constraints, but knows that subsequent over-the-air updates, similar to Tesla, can eke out more miles.
'We'll need fewer saloon and estate variants,' says Volvo boss Håkan Samuelsson, 'we'll still have them, but probably not as many, with more SUV models instead. We need to expand even more there, and we're planning something smaller even than the 40 Series.
Other details from Volvo's larger cars are expected to be carried across. Along with new digital dials like the C40, Volvo is rolling out its Google-based Android OS infotainment to more of its models. The new XC90, likely a year or so away from debut, will take this path – as will the new baby crossover.
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Volvo's also made a big fuss about its 'Care by Volvo' subscription service in the past couple of years, which will apply to every new EV. Like the C40, there'll be demos to test at a dealer, but you'll order your car online, regardless of whether you're buying or subscribing.
Stay tuned for more details as we get them.
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