Does Volvo’s New Lineup Include More Wagons for the US?

While all eyes are on the 2016 Volvo XC90 right now, there are many new load-luggers coming from Volvo this decade. And they may all come to the U.S., too – if you cross your fingers.

Starting with the new XC90, Volvo’s future lineup has been divided into three segments – the 90, 60 and 40 series cars. And all are due to be totally redone in the next five years. Lead by the XC90, replacements for the S80, V70 and XC70 are due next. After that, the S/V/XC60 are scheduled to be renovated. And all of these vehicles will be based on the company’s new SPA modular architecture.

Following the redesign of the larger cars, Volvo will turn its attention to the small end of the lineup. The CMA architecture is being developed with parent Geely and will underpin the replacement for the V40, the Ford-based hatchback that’s been forbidden fruit for North America since its 2012 introduction.

The future V40, probably a main candidate for the new three-cylinder Drive-E engines, will also spawn a third-generation S40 sedan and all-new crossover XC40. This family is clearly aimed at the Mercedes A/CLA/GLA and Audi A3/Q3 lines, all of which are racking up sizable sales globally. And that’s where there’s good news for Americans, as Car & Driver reports all of these new Volvos have “potential for global sale,” according to company executives. That should put an end to the “engineered for European consumption” excuse that killed the current V40 for the U.S. and Canadian markets.

And that’s a great move for Volvo, considering versatility and practicality are its strong points and its smaller V and XC models could do more to rival Audi, BMW and Mercedes than its more ordinary S sedans. But we’ll have to see what the XC90 does when it goes on sale next spring.

So get a good look at the Volvo Concept Estate, unveiled earlier this year. Add a couple of doors and an XC90-like interior and that’s what the V70’s replacement should look like. Make it a little smaller and more rakish and you have the new V60. And do the same again to get the new V40.

The future is looking bright and wagon-y – especially if all of this is coming to the U.S.

By Zac Estrada