El primer Volvo ES90 sale de la línea de producción en China
Since the Swedish carmaker was taken over by Geely, Volvo has repeatedly utilised the production capacities of its parent company. The previous combustion engine model, the S90, was already manufactured by Geely in China, and production of the compact electric SUV EX30 also started in China before European production in Ghent, Belgium, took over for the local markets. However, the EX30 is not based on a Volvo platform, but shares its technology with other Geely models such as the Zeekr X and Smart #1.
The ES90, presentado en marzo, uses SPA2, the second-generation Scalable Product Architecture that debuted last year in the flagship EX90 SUV – see our test drive report here. But there is one big difference: the ES90 is Volvo’s first 800-volt model and therefore offers significantly shorter charging times than the EX90, which debuted as a 400-volt model. Volvo has already announced that it will also convert the EX90 to the higher voltage to benefit from the more modern technology.
Volvo has packaged the ES90’s 800-volt technology in a new body concept. The model is not intended to be a classic successor to the old S90, but rather to form “a class of its own,” as Volvo puts it. “Some would say it’s a saloon. Others see a fastback or even hints of an SUV,” Volvo added. In fact, the ES90 has something of a larger Polestar 2 feel about it: it is slightly taller, and the classic elongated saloon proportions no longer apply. Due to the long wheelbase of 3.10 metres, the rear overhang is too short for it to pass as a ‘classic’ saloon, yet the car is too low for an SUV coupé.
Order books for the ES90 are already open in several European markets, and deliveries to customers will begin later this year – in Germany, the car is available from £67,990. “The ES90 will also be available shortly in some of our key markets in the Asia-Pacific region,” the Swedish company announced.
“The fully electric ES90 marks a major milestone as Volvo Cars steps into a new era of safety, sustainability and human-centric technology,” said Francesca Gamboni, Chief Industrial Operations Officer at Volvo Cars. “With production now underway, we’re reaffirming our commitment to a fully electrified future and proving our ability to innovate and meet customer demands.”
Este artículo fue publicado por primera vez por Sebastian Schaal para la edición alemana de electrive.
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