When Volvo unveiled its new flagship model in early November, they only featured the EX90 with a three-row, seven-seat layout. However, the potential expansion of the electric SUV lineup is made possible thanks to the newly developed SPA2 platform shared with the Polestar 3. In an interview with Motor TrendThe Swedish automaker’s chief operating officer Javier Varela said the modularity of the architecture supports the two-row variant.
That’s not surprising considering the Polestar 3 doesn’t have a third row. Both come in a dual-motor setup with all-wheel drive and a combined output of 517 hp (380 kW) and 910 Nm (671 lb-ft) of torque. However, there is still room for more as custom EV architectures can be adapted for high-performance applications. It would make more sense for a Polestar model than a Volvo, but it’s too early to say when/if that will happen.
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At the other end of the range, the single-motor Volvo EX90 will be rear-wheel drive, according to Varela. The base model will undercut the only version arriving for the 2024 model year as “well-equipped for under $80,000”. Initially, the large electric SUV will only be produced in China before hitting the assembly line in 2024 at the upgraded Ridgeville plant. Polestar 3 will also be assembled at the two factories.
Volvo isn’t giving up on the combustion engine XC90 just yet as Sweden aims to keep it on sale for an indeterminate number of years in parts of the world where EV adoption isn’t great. In the long term, Geely’s marque will come out with a more advanced electricity-only architecture, dubbed GPA, which will have faster charging speeds thanks to the use of an 800V system.
