It seems like Volvo is set to grow its SUV lineup in the wake of strong sales. In an interview with Auto Express, Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson revealed that the Swedish automaker is considering adding two more models to its SUV lineup.
“Our strategy has been growth, but not through adding pure volumes,” Samuelsson told Auto Express. “We have been going in hard and being better in segments where we have a really strong offering. That is the basic assumption. And now we also have the production capacity to grow this company. But we are not excluding the idea of additions, especially in very core segments, like the SUV. I think we are looking into this possibility now. You should not exclude the idea that there might be a bigger one, but maybe also a smaller one. We will surprise you about that in the future”
A smaller SUV would slot under the XC40 while a larger model would sit above the XC90 as the new range topper. If both SUVs do get the green light, the entry-level model will likely be underpinned by the CMA platform and be similar in size to the Audi Q2, which slots below the Q3 and isn’t sold in North America. An all-electric Volvo XC40 is expected to arrive for the 2020 model year.
The larger SUV could use the second generation of Volvo’s SPA platform, which is expected to arrive in three years and can reportedly handle vehicles larger than the XC90. All 60 and 90 series Volvos use the first-generation SPA architecture, which was first introduced on the second-generation XC90 for the 2016 model year. An SUV larger than the XC90 would expand Volvo’s reach in the U.S. and China where such vehicles are in high demand. With Volvo’s commitment to electrification, both the entry-level small crossover and range-topping full-size SUV should offer electrified powertrains, possibly including full EVs.
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