Volvo's new spa3 platform could bring back sedans and wagons
A shift in volvo's strategy
Volvo is considering a return to traditional body styles like sedans and wagons, thanks to its groundbreaking new SPA3 platform for electric vehicles. For years, the Swedish automaker has prioritized SUVs, with five out of six models currently falling into that category. However, the SPA3 platform offers unprecedented flexibility, potentially allowing Volvo to revisit classic designs and cater to a changing market demand for alternatives to the increasingly popular SUV.
The spa3 platform: a game changer
The key to this potential shift lies in the SPA3 platform's engineering prowess. Unlike its predecessor, SPA2 (used in the EX90 and ES90), SPA3 was specifically designed for electric vehicles, not adapted from a combustion engine architecture. This fundamental difference unlocks significantly more freedom in component placement and vehicle design, allowing for a much lower ride height and greater overall design versatility.
Battery placement freedom
Anders Bell, Volvo's Chief Technology Officer, explained that the crucial innovation is decoupling battery size from vehicle height. Previous platforms required batteries to dictate the car's overall height. With SPA3, engineers can position the battery pack more strategically, distributing cells along the floor and even ahead of the firewall. This eliminates the need to house the battery entirely between the axles, a constraint that often forces automakers to raise the vehicle's profile.
Inspired by porsche and audi
The SPA3 platform allows for design choices seen in models like the Porsche Taycan and Audi E-tron GT. By positioning battery cells in front of the windshield, Volvo can free up space for rear passenger footwells. This allows for a lower roofline and a more traditional window line, mimicking the proportions of conventional combustion engine cars. Bell noted that the minimum height of a car is largely determined by the space required for rear passenger footroom.
Reimagining battery integration
Volvo has also inverted the battery terminals on the SPA3 platform, directing them downwards instead of upwards. This modification allows for a more uniform placement of current collectors along the battery pack, removing the need for space accommodations for footwells. This contributes significantly to the platform’s adaptability and allows for a wider range of vehicle designs.
Beyond suvs: a wider range of possibilities
The SPA3 platform doesn't just enable lower, sleeker sedans and wagons. According to Bell, the scalability of the platform allows Volvo to explore other body styles, including minivans. While the specific future models remain unconfirmed, the SPA3 platform provides the foundation for a broader vehicle lineup, moving beyond the current SUV-centric focus. “We can make them low. We can make them stylish. We can make them tall. We can make minivans… It's all in the recipe,” stated Bell.
The future of volvo design
While Volvo’s immediate plans are still under wraps, the SPA3 platform clearly signals a potential shift in design philosophy. The flexibility and engineering advancements of this new platform could mark a return to the classic Volvo silhouettes that many enthusiasts fondly remember, offering a compelling alternative to the dominance of SUVs in the Automotive market. The company is now weighing its options, but the possibility of a revival of sedans and wagons is very real.