Get ready for a thrilling comeback! Volvo’s sleek, low-riding estate cars might just be making a return, thanks to the groundbreaking SPA3 platform. But here’s where it gets controversial: in a world dominated by SUVs, is there still a place for these classic designs? Let’s dive in.
Volvo’s new SPA3 platform, designed specifically for electric vehicles (EVs), could signal a shift back to the brand’s iconic low-slung saloon and estate models, reminiscent of the S60 and V90. And this is the part most people miss: while five out of Volvo’s six current models are SUVs, even the sixth—the ES90 saloon—sits as high as a typical crossover. So, why the sudden change in direction?
Historically, Volvo executives have cited the market’s preference for SUVs as the reason for phasing out traditional saloons and estates, like the petrol-powered S60, S90, V60, and V90. However, the SPA3 platform, debuting with the new EX60, is engineered for unprecedented flexibility, allowing EVs to sit closer to the ground. This opens the door for a potential revival of lower-riding designs—if demand shifts.
One game-changing feature of the SPA3 is its ability to decouple battery capacity from vehicle height. Unlike platforms adapted from internal combustion engine (ICE) designs, the SPA3 is purpose-built for EVs, giving engineers the freedom to reposition components and structures. Volvo’s Chief Technology Officer, Anders Bell, explains, “We can make [cars] high. We can make them low. It’s all about scalability, unlocked by removing the combustion engine, exhaust, and fuel tanks from the equation.”
Here’s the controversial twist: As EVs evolve, their width has often increased due to the constraints of adapted ICE platforms. But the SPA3 challenges this trend, enabling next-gen Volvo EVs to mirror the width, height, and silhouette of traditional ICE cars. How? By spreading battery cells across the floorpan and ahead of the scuttle, rather than confining them within the wheelbase. This innovation even allows Volvo to maintain its legendary crash safety standards while pushing design boundaries.
For instance, the SPA3 moves the meeting point between the battery and the front crash structure forward, enabling Volvo to place a significant portion of the battery pack ahead of the cabin. “We can put seven kilowatts—at a minimum—of the pack further forward, while still doing all the crazy Volvo crash stuff,” Bell notes.
So, what does this mean for the future of Volvo? Could we see a resurgence of low-riding estates, or will SUVs continue to dominate? Is Volvo’s move a bold step forward or a nostalgic throwback? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate you won’t want to miss!
