The electric successor to the Volvo XC90 is expected to be unveiled in the last quarter of this year.
Recent trademark applications filed with the European Union’s intellectual property office suggest the car will be called the Embla, ditching the brand’s traditional alphanumeric nomenclature.
The basis of the new electric SUV will be the platform of the automaker SPA2, which can accommodate many internal combustion engines and fully electric power units. The successor to the XC90 will be the first Volvo model to use this platform, but several others will follow a similar path in the coming years. The electric version of the platform will offer a completely flat floor.
Reports suggest that the Embla will be offered to customers with one and two engines with power in the range of 400-455 hp. The engines will be powered by a 100 kWh lithium-ion battery with 800-volt technology, which will provide fast charging with direct current and a range of more than 600 km.
‘It’s a very exciting time for us because it’s taking us into a different realm — it’s another building block into the future,’ Volvo Chief Executive Jim Rowan said of the electric SUV. ‘This model is an extremely important vehicle for us.’
Embla’s proprietary images have revealed that its design will be very similar to the Recharge concept presented in 2021. The front end will feature familiar yet sophisticated LED headlights with bright daytime running lights. There will also be a small faux grille and the side profile looks very similar to the current XC90. However, the rear of the car is completely different thanks to the new lobster claw LED taillights.
The interior of the Volvo Embla will also be significantly different from the current model, reflecting its EV underpinnings. The leaked images revealed that the SUV will have a portrait-oriented infotainment system, but may be completely devoid of a traditional instrument panel, possibly in favor of a steering column-mounted display or an advanced head-up display with augmented reality technology.
