So it seems it’s official now: Volvo is going to make a crossover model smaller than the XC60. The model had already been confirmed by company CEO Hakan Samuelsson, but now we know it’s a priority.
He explained that “in four years’ time, the new XC90 will be the oldest car we make, but we see the priority as replacing our bread and butter models rather than breaking new ground.”
So Volvo will be replacing all its core models (as well as renaming them) by 2020 and adding a baby crossover, as well. Who could blame them, given just how tightly contested the sector it is nowadays and the confidence boost they’re undoubtedly getting from the XC60 (Europe’s best selling vehicle in its class).
Autocar goes on to quote Samuelsson as saying “the job for now is to become bigger and more profitable doing what we already do but doing it much better and charging more for it. Only then can we start looking at coupés and convertibles” – they need the more boring easy-to-sell stuff to work to make sexier models.
The CEO also talked about the lead that Volvo has over other manufacturers with their modular engine architecture. “We are some years ahead of the opposition. You can’t get to 95g/km [the required EU range average] with a six-cylinder engine,” he noted, concluding that if a V8 is that important to you, you’re probably not a Volvo customer.”
Note: 2007 XC60 concept pictured
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