Volvo Concept Recharge might be what the next electric XC90 looks like.
Volvo Cars today unveiled the Concept Recharge, which will preview the company’s upcoming range of electric vehicles. This will be Volvo Cars’ first wave of pure electric cars following the Volvo C40 Recharge. As such, the concept vehicle features very different proportions from existing ICE and PHEV models.
In the past, Volvo Car’s Plug-in Hybrid models mounted their lithium-ion battery packs in the centre tunnel. This was a good compromise, as it did not reduce luggage space.
However, it did protrude noticeably into the passenger compartment. With the Volvo Concept Recharge, the company has finally transitioned to a battery on the floor of the vehicle. This frees up loads of space for the passengers. What’s more, because there doesn’t need to be an engine under the hood, the wheelbase has been extended, giving even more space to occupants.
Just as Volvo Car mentioned last week, this concept previews their future policy of fitting vehicles with LiDAR as standard for better driver assistance system accuracy.
They have not expressly mentioned which model was being previewed with this Concept Recharge, but in all likelihood, it’s going to be the next generation electric XC90 flagship.
Here’s the press release with more information.
Press Release
For Volvo Cars, electrification is more than simply a shift in powertrains. It represents a new paradigm in car design and the Volvo Concept Recharge is a manifesto for the next generation of all-electric Volvos.
True to the heritage of Scandinavian design, Concept Recharge has the mantra of ‘less but better’ at its core. For example, by removing the complexity of the internal combustion engine, the designers have been able to evolve the car’s proportions to increase interior space while also improving aerodynamic efficiency. The result is a car that offers genuinely better solutions to support a sustainable family life.
Volvo’s first generation of electric cars shares a floor with combustion engine-powered cars, which requires a balance in proportions and space to be able to accommodate both a battery pack and an internal combustion engine.
The next generation of Volvo’s fully electric cars – the first of which is the company’s first SUV on a completely new electric-only technology base – will feature flat floors, as previewed in the Concept Recharge.
By removing the engine and replacing it with a full battery pack under the flat floor, the designers have extended the wheelbase and the wheel size of the car. The result is shorter overhangs, as well as a lot more interior space including a large storage area between the front seats.
In the Concept Recharge these advancements have led designers to reposition the seats, optimise the roof profile and lower the hood of the car while retaining the high eye point beloved by drivers of cars like the Volvo XC40, XC60 and XC90. This approach creates efficiency gains in aerodynamics compared to a typical SUV, which improves range.
This concept car also introduces a new Volvo design language. Continuing the theme of ‘less but better’, all unnecessary elements have been removed and what remains is treated with a high-precision, flush execution.
The traditional grille has been replaced with a shield-like structure, supported by a new interpretation of Volvo Cars’ Thor’s Hammer headlight design. These include the latest HD technology-enabled pure graphic which open at night to reveal the main lamp units.
Signature vertical rear lamps connect to the brand’s strong design heritage, but are reimagined with a set of wings that extend at higher cruising speeds to further improve overall aerodynamics.
The Volvo design language also takes a new form inside the Concept Recharge. The flat floor provides more space and a better seating position for all those inside the car.
A large, 15 inch standing touch screen is the centre of a new and improved user experience for the company’s next-generation connected infotainment system. Designed to be logical and intuitive to use, technology helps provide a serene and calm experience.
The latest infotainment technology goes hand in hand with those other hallmarks of Scandinavian design: clean lines and extensive use of sustainable and natural materials inside the cabin.
Finally, the Concept Recharge also reflects Volvo Cars’ safety ambitions in coming years. A LiDAR sensor, built by technology company Luminar and a critical part of Volvo Cars’ plan for forthcoming safe autonomous drive technology, is placed in an optimal position on the roof to collect data on the environment around the car.
