Swedish car manufacturer, Volvo could enter into the compact electric SUV segment in the next few years. The company is reportedly working on a new electric SUV, which is rumoured to be called the Volvo XC20. The new model will sit under the current XC40 and the XC40 Recharge, and will be positioned against the Hyundai Kona EV.
This news further confirmed by Volvo’s new rendering attached to their recent announcement of achieving full electric by the end of the decade. The digital image shows that Volvo will launch 7 electric cars in the next few years. There is one model placed in the middle of the second row, which is likely to be the small SUV with electric powertrain. However, Volvo stated that the image is a simple illustration and it “should serve only as a visualization, and not as a clear guidance on future electric Volvo models”.
The Volvo XC20 name is yet to be confirmed by the automaker. Swedish automaker also trademarked the XC30 and the XC10 nameplates. The new model is expected to be based on Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), which was unveiled in September 2020. It is a dedicated architectures for EVs that is aluminium intensive, and it is compatible with smaller as well as larger vehicles including SUVs, sedans and pickups. This platform also supports technologies like connected car tech and autonomous driving.
The Zeeker 001 is the first product based on the SEA platform. It features two motors with 400kW and 768Nm of torque. The Zeeker 001 is claimed to achieve 0-100kmph in just 3.8 seconds before hitting a top speed of 200+ kmph. However, the Volvo XC20 Recharge could be conservative in terms of range and power. The XC20 will be positioned as a city car with range around 250km to 300km.
