Volvo is set to launch its new flagship luxury SUV, the 2024 Volvo XC100 Recharge, based on the new EV architecture and design approach previewed on the Volvo Recharge Concept. With a more wagon-inspired design and a new “real” name inspired by Norse mythology, rumored to be “Embla,” the XC100 Recharge is set to make a significant impact on the luxury SUV market.
Design and Performance
The new architecture pushes the wheels further out to the corners of the vehicle, making room for a long-range battery pack that’s expected to power all four wheels through axle-mounted electric motors. The interior will feature natural and sustainable materials, with a design approach described as “minimalist Scandinavian chic.” The vehicle will follow the SUV-coupe trend with a tall, high-riding body and low roofline, and the base price is expected to be $85,000.
Advanced Safety and Driver-Assistance Systems
The XC100 Recharge will include driver-monitoring cameras and capacitive touch sensors in the steering wheel to ensure the driver is paying attention to the road. The infotainment system will be managed on an Android operating system, likely similar to Polestar’s Android Automotive operating system featured on the Polestar 2 EV. The vehicle’s advanced safety and driver-assistance systems will feature a new system, currently dubbed “Ride,” that will be able to offer some level of hands-free, self-driving capability eventually.
Production and Future Plans
The XC100 Recharge could be built at Volvo’s South Carolina factory for US sales and beyond. SPA2-based vehicles will have roof-mounted lidar sensors from Volvo-backed Luminar for autonomous driving on highways. Volvo has launched an EV offensive with the debut of a battery-powered version of its XC40 compact crossover, and the brand’s electrified Recharge models represent 20 percent of its U.S. sales as of July. A battery-powered flagship crossover similar to the XC90 will be revealed next year, with production expected to begin in early 2023.
Volvo’s Electric Future
Volvo aims to become a fully electric car brand by 2030, with plans to add “one new BEV car every year for the next five years.” The automaker will also sell electric cars under its Polestar brand, starting with the Polestar 2. Volvo plans to use the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) Geely recently unveiled, which offers advantages over existing Volvo platforms that need to handle both electric drive and internal combustion engines. The SEA is a true skateboard-style design mounting batteries and motor drive technology under the floorboards which, in turn, offers more flexibility in the cabin design.