The Volvo XC70 is coming back from the dead, but not as a beefed-up wagon like the V60 Cross Country. Instead, the Swedish automaker has confirmed that the XC70 will become an SUV. But rather than having a pure ICE or full-electric setup, it will be something in between – an extended-range plug-in hybrid EV (ER-PHEV) that should bridge the gap between the two technologies. Even better, we now have more details about the returning nameplate ahead of its debut.
Details about the XC70 were leaked via China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Based on the images, the XC70 looks like a dead ringer for the EX90, Volvo’s biggest EV in the U.S., though numbers from the leak show that it will be slightly smaller. In fact, it will be closer to the Hyundai Santa Fe in terms of size.
Two Battery Options, With Ranges Lower Than Volvo’s Previous Claim
Other design details we can confirm based on the leaked images include frameless side mirrors, retractable door handles, Matrix LED headlamps integrated into the lower bumper, active front air intake, and, of course, the signature Thor’s Hammer vertical taillights. The XC70 will also have two options for wheel designs in three sizes, at least for the market it will be initially sold to.
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There will also be two battery options for the XC70 when it launches in the world’s biggest car market later this year. The smaller one will be a 21.22 kWh LFP battery that’s good for 62 miles of pure electric range, while the other is a bigger 39.63 kWh Ternary NMC battery that’s good for 112 miles based on the more generous CLTC cycle. The latter’s a bit lower than Volvo’s previous claim, but still way better than the company’s current PHEVs, such as the S60 midsize sedan.
“The XC70 marks our strategic entry into the extended-range plug-in hybrid segment, a perfect bridge to full electrification. It enables us to maintain and develop a balanced product portfolio, while offering a highly attractive alternative to customers who are not yet ready for fully electric cars.”
– Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars
It Uses An Engine Developed Under The Geely Group
The XC70 will be Volvo’s first ER-PHEV, which is pegged to be the solution to the dwindling EV demand globally. It will also be the first to use the automaker’s new Scalable Modular Architecture (SMA) platform. The engine component of the PHEV system is a 1.5L turbocharged BHE15-BFZ engine manufactured by Aurobay, a company absorbed by Geely-Renault’s joint venture called Horse Powertrain. This engine is also shared with other brands in China under Geely.
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The Volvo XC70 will be launched later this year in September. As we’ve said, it will initially be sold in China, but Volvo hasn’t closed the doors to offering this SUV to other markets, including the U.S. Considering the popularity of hybrids here, as well as other upcoming rivals like the Scout SUVs and trucks, there is a market for EREVs. It’s just a matter of where it will be produced.
Source: China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) via CarNewsChina
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