Volvo teases all-electric EX60, built on advanced new platform

Volvo has begun teasing its upcoming electric SUV, the EX60 — a battery-powered successor to its popular XC60 that is set to provide a “huge boost” for the Swedish brand.

Due to launch early next year, the EX60 will be the first Volvo to use the company’s new SPA3 (Scalable Product Architecture 3) platform, which also underpins the larger EX90 and ES90 models. The next-generation electric architecture is expected to support a broader range of vehicles, both smaller and larger than today’s line-up.

Volvo says the EX60 will be based around an advanced software stack designed to enable over-the-air updates and unlock additional features over time.

Anders Bell, head of engineering at Volvo Cars, told Autocar UK the platform was developed in-house rather than being sourced from parent company Geely, which provides the SEA architecture used in the smaller EX30.

“We very much took a first-principles approach to it,” Bell said. “You will see the highest level of supremely well-integrated technology coming together.”

The EX60 will closely match the dimensions of the XC60, Volvo’s global bestseller, and will borrow styling cues from the EX30 and EX90.

While SPA3 represents a major technical shift, Bell described it as a natural progression in terms of software integration. “It’s a big step from a mechanical perspective, but from a software electronics perspective, it’s a straight evolution,” he said.

“SPA3 is designed from the beginning to be much more scalable, in size and price point and across regions, but also scalable in volume,” Bell said. “It’s designed for scale in every dimension: when it comes to size, my job is to make sure that the company has options. We are designing to be scalable from B to F [segments]. That ensures we have flexibility and that we can launch the products that markets decide they want when they want it.”

With all future Volvos to be built on the SPA3 platform, Bell said the company will be able to streamline product development significantly.

“Because it’s all one technology stack, there’s no repeat of work,” he explained. “It’s the same software stack, same basic electrical architecture. Yes, it’s scalable in size, price and capabilities, but it’s not spreading our products in different ecosystems.

“Our focal point is safety, sustainability and creating this fantastic customer experience. It is all wrapped in this Scandinavian design, on one tech stack.”

The EX60 will also debut megacasting production technology for Volvo, allowing large sections of the vehicle to be made as a single cast aluminium component rather than as multiple welded pieces. This, combined with the modularity of SPA3, is expected to lower production costs and simplify manufacturing.

Further details, including range, pricing and drivetrain specifications, are expected to be revealed closer to launch.