It’s been almost a decade since Volvo discontinued the XC70 to make way for the V60 Cross Country. The nameplate is making a surprising return, though unfortunately, not as a new wagon. Instead, the Geely-owned brand is launching its umpteenth SUV in China later this year, potentially reaching other markets as well. As the name suggests, it will be slightly larger than the XC60, offering a more spacious cabin.
Volvo’s plug-in hybrid sales rose 11 percent through April, reaching 56,722 units. With the new XC70, the Swedish automaker is introducing its first “extended-range” PHEV. It claims a purely electric range of 124 miles (200 kilometers), significantly more than the XC60’s 36-mile EV range in the U.S. It’s also more than double the XC60’s 50-mile electric range under Europe’s WLTP cycle. However, we should point out this isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison.
Photo by: Volvo
The quoted range for the XC70 comes from China’s overly optimistic CLTC test cycle, so EPA and WLTP figures would be considerably lower. Even so, Volvo says this is its first long-range PHEV, made possible by the Scalable Modular Architecture (SMA), which also supports fast charging, albeit technical details remain under wraps.
So, what does “extended-range” plug-in hybrid actually mean? The XC70 could feature a much larger battery than the 18.8-kWh pack in the XC60. However, it could point to something different. Volvo’s parent company has been developing a range-extender powertrain in which a combustion engine acts solely as a generator to charge the battery. This setup is similar to Mazda’s rotary engine in the MX-30 or the V-6 planned for the Ram 1500 Ramcharger.
This new powertrain comes from Horse, a joint venture between Geely and Renault. It promises 124 miles (200 kilometers) of electric range from a battery about half the size of a full EV. The total driving range is around 500 miles (805 kilometers).
Photo by: Volvo
Photo by: Volvo
The styling seems to mirror the company’s latest SUV design language. The new vehicle is likely a touch longer than the 185.4-inch XC60, and one key detail is the AWD badge on the tailgate, confirming power going to both axles. Up front, matrix LED headlights sit below the signature Thor’s Hammer daytime running lights, flanking a closed grille.
Volvo will officially reveal the revived XC70 in the coming months.
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Source: Volvo