Volvo Cars discussed its future technology roadmap today during the Volvo Cars Tech Moment, an online event that illustrates how it will transition towards becoming a fully electric premium car company and a world leader in the segment by 2030.
During the live event from Gothenburg, Sweden, the company gave the audience a first glimpse of the technologies that will underpin its future electric vehicles. The company also featured representatives from key partners Google, Luminar, Northvolt, and Nvidia that discussed the role their technology will play in future Volvos. More on that in a future article.
“As we transition to becoming a pure electric premium car company by 2030, we are committed to creating the best cars in our 94-year history,” said Håkan Samuelsson, CEO, Volvo Cars. “This is an exciting time in our development, and we will deliver on growing customer demand for pure electric cars that offer seamless connectivity, industry-leading safety standards, and advanced autonomous drive.”
The Volvo Cars execs wrapped up the event with a concept-car reveal that reinforced its technology-roadmap presentations and showed the future design themes of its upcoming pure-electric era. The company says that electrification represents not only a shift in powertrains but also a new paradigm in car design—and the Concept Recharge is a manifesto for the next generation of all-electric Volvos.
True to Scandinavian design, the Concept Recharge has the mantra of “less but better” at its core.
“With the Concept Recharge we continue the rich roots of Volvo’s design DNA in a modern and fresh way as we move into our all-electric future,” said Robin Page, Senior Vice President, Design, Volvo Car Group. “This really encapsulates all the technology that’s been talked about today.”
Volvo’s first generation of electric cars shared a floor with combustion-engine-powered cars, which required a balance in proportions and space to be able to accommodate both a battery pack and an internal combustion engine. By removing the engine and replacing it with a full battery pack under the flat floor, designers were able to evolve the car’s proportions, extending the wheelbase to increase interior space, shortening overhangs, while also improving aerodynamic efficiency, increasing wheel size, and adding a large storage area between the front seats.
The next generation of the company’s fully electric cars will feature those flat floors previewed in the Concept Recharge. The first of those vehicles is the XC90 replacement, the company’s first SUV on a completely new electric-only technology base.
In the Concept Recharge, designers repositioned the seats, optimized and lowered the roof profile and hood, and retained the high eyepoint enjoyed by drivers of cars like Volvo’s high-riding XC40, XC60, and XC90. This approach creates efficiency gains in aerodynamics compared to a typical SUV, which improves range.
The concept car also introduces a revised Volvo design language. Continuing the theme of “less but better,” designers say that all unnecessary elements have been removed and what remains is treated with a high-precision, flush execution.
The traditional grille is replaced with a shield-like structure supported by a new interpretation of the Thor’s Hammer headlight design of Volvo Cars. These include the latest HD technology-enabled pure graphic, which opens at night to reveal the main lamp units. The vertical rear lamps, connecting to the brand’s design heritage, are reimagined with a set of side wings that extend at higher cruising speeds to improve overall aerodynamics.
“Our Concept Recharge represents a manifesto for the all-electric future of Volvo Cars, as well as a new type of vehicle,” said Page. “It displays new and modern proportions that go hand-in-hand with increased versatility and shows what technology can enable in terms of design.”
That new type of vehicle looks to meld station wagon with SUV proportions.
The exterior also reflects Volvo Cars’ safety past and future ambitions. It previews how a LiDAR sensor from partner Luminar will be placed in an optimal position on the roof header to collect sensor data for ADAS (advanced driving assistance system) and future AV (autonomous vehicle) capabilities.
The Volvo design language also takes on a new form inside the Concept Recharge. The flat floor not only provides more space but also a better seating position for all occupants.
“Inside the Concept Recharge, we create a truly Scandinavian living room feeling,” said Page. “Each part of the interior is like a piece of art and could stand alone as individual furniture in a room. We use the latest technologies but not for their own sake. We always focus on the benefits that technologies can bring.”
The interior features hallmarks of Scandinavian design like clean lines and extensive use of sustainable and natural materials. A larger 15-in standing touch screen is at the center for access to the company’s next-generation connected infotainment system. It is said to offer a new and improved user experience, designed to be logical and intuitive to use, with the technology helping to provide a serene and calm experience.
One interesting seat detail is a modern take on the booster cushion Volvo introduced in the late 1970s to enhance safety for small children.
“Now, we take this even further by having a fully adjustable cushion in the rear to not only create the perfect seat but also let everyone in the car benefit from a high eyepoint,” said Page. “So with the extensively adjustable cushion and a full glass roof, we can optimize the space and lower the overall height of the vehicle, but keep the all-important high eyepoint. And this thing gives the efficiency gain in aerodynamics, which means more range.”
At the conclusion of the event, Samuelsson more closely linked the Concept Recharge with a future Volvo production car.
“We will then have the real first cars coming out next year,” he said. “It will be a Volvo flagship, a new [type of] SUV. It’s really the first of its kind, to be followed by a lot of cars based on the same architecture.”
“We should also then mark that by deviating from our normal way of giving our cars names,” he added. “They are called the XC, very engineering-wise, and they’re with a number. As the first of the next generation Volvos, this car will also have a name, more like a child.”
He didn’t give any hints on the new name, but said: “When we present the car, we will surprise you with that.”
