Volvo’s product lineup in China continues to grow. During a recent media briefing, the automaker revealed it will launch a new MPV later this year. The public won’t get to see the first minivan until later this year, but it won’t be an entirely new vehicle from the brand.
According to CarNewsChina.com reports, Volvo will base its new minivan on the Zeekr 009. Geely owns both brands. Volvo will adopt the SEA Zeekr electric vehicle platform and powertrain. However, Volvo will give this new model a unique exterior design. The sleek and modern cab of the Zeekr may have received a few simple styling changes to harmonize with other Volvo models. We hope automakers pack it with technology and safety features. The 009 has 30 driver assistance functions as standard equipment.
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The Zeekr 009 is a beefy people carrier, measuring 205 inches (5,209 mm) long, 80 inches (2,024 mm) wide and 74 inches (1,867 mm) high. It weighs 6,239 pounds (2,830 kilograms), which is a lot, even for an EV. However, the dual-motor powertrain produces a combined 536 horsepower (400 kilowatts), capable of sending the van from 0 to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers) per hour in a lightning-fast 4.5 seconds. We expect similar performance figures from Volvo.
The 009 accommodates a 140 kilowatt-hour lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt battery pack. It can offer a range of 511 miles (822 kilometers) on the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle. Geely’s SEA platform also powers the Smart #1, Lotus Eletre and Polestar 4. The boxy design is particularly sleek thanks to its aerodynamic windscreen, with the EV featuring a low 0.27 drag coefficient. Inside, the Zeekr is available in a 2+2+2 layout or an optional 2+2 executive configuration.
Volvo will reveal the new model in the third quarter of this year as a “semi-concept,” according to the report. The production version will be launched in the last quarter of 2023. There is a rear-wheel drive version of the Zeekr 009 on the way, which could produce a Volvo equivalent in the future. It’s unclear whether Volvo plans to export the minivan, but nobody expects it in the US even if it does.
