► Volvo teases new XC70
► Sits between XC90 and XC60
► Some specs now leaked
Volvo may be focusing on its electric range of EX cars, but it’s not finished with the internal combustion just yet. After refreshing the XC90 and the XC60, the Swedish brand has now teased a new XC70. Although it shares its name with Volvo’s more rugged estate, it’s now going to be a ‘mid-size SUV format, slightly larger and more spacious than the Volvo XC60.’
As the name suggests, it’s designed to sit between the XC60 and XC90 and these new pictures show a typically clean design that fits somewhere between the two. Volvo says it’ll initially be launched in China, where it’ll plug a gap for a long-range hybrid car in the current line-up. It’ll be built on the new SMA platform, and should have a range of around EV-only 124 miles (CLTC).
‘The XC70 marks our strategic entry into the extended-range plug-in hybrid segment, a perfect bridge to full electrification,’ said Håkan Samuelsson, the president and chief executive of Volvo.
‘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. This is also an example of regionalisation, where we adapt to the local market needs.’
What about the specs?
The XC70’s imminent release means it has now appeared on China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology database – and that means we know some of its specifications.
It’ll measure 4815mm long, 1890mm wide and 1650mm tall, making it 138mm shorter than the XC90’s 2953 length. The all-electric ES90 is 5000mm, for context.
Powertrain-wise, the new SUV will use a 161bhp 1.5-litre turbo in combination with two batteries – a 21.2kWh pack, or a 39.6kWh unit. Weight is said to be 2540kg.
Will it come to the UK?
Volvo states a demand for PHEVs in China, but a global cooling for EVs means the XC70 could well come to Europe in time. We’ll update this article when we know more.