Posts by northcar
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Does anyone recall how and when the past two hybrid battery upgrades for the XC60 and XC90 took place? Were either of them mid model year as is anticipated for at least the XC60 beginning with a November 2021 production date (mid 2022 model year?). In both instances the upgraded battery was fitted to both the XC60 and XC90 at the same time, correct?
FWIW there was a posting advising that both the XC60 and XC90 are made on the same line and it is most likely that an upgraded battery would be available to both at the same time.
Since it is looking more and more likely that the XC90 replacement to be built in the U.S. under some new name is not imminent it is logical to assume that the current XC90 will continue for at least another model year which would incentivize not treating the XC90 as an abandoned child at least with regard to the anticipated upgraded battery.
Thanks for providing what appears to be confirmation that both the XC60 and XC90 are going to be getting the upgraded hybrid battery at the same time.
Was the press release dated today? The statement the "They are on sale from today" is tied to a production date in the near future, even earlier than the November date that had previously been projected?
Finally, were any details offered as to the "new powertrain" especially with regard to new capacity levels for the battery?
If all goes as expected the XC90 Recharges coming off the manufacturing line in Gothenburg, Sweden during late November of this year should be equipped with he 18kwh battery pack. One would expect that within two months any of those cars headed for the U.S. could begin arriving at port. There could be some additional delay either in port or at a storage site until U.S. certifications for the new powertrain have been obtained and the cars can then be released to dealer lots. Late February or into March would thus be likely for the 18kwh battery pack in the USA.
Of course that 21 miles sounds like a conservative figure given some of the reported experiences on this forum and the longer distances estimated by Volvo in Europe. Regardless it will be welcome to have an extra ten miles or so added along with the increased tax credit - assuming Congress doesn't price out the credit for electric assisted cars costing what the XC90 costs.
I don't like this name.For American market, they better use some word that is familiar to English speakers. It is better to just call it Thor.
Remember the Datsun 240Z? In Japan it was named the Datsun Fairlady. (Even company's name Datsun eventually got changed to Nissan.)
And to think that was even before focus groups were invented so it was self evident from the start that what sells in Japan wouldn't sell in the United States. Likewise maybe Embla works on the European Continent, but no way here and that is just from this thread's focus group.
The suggestion above to alter the name Embla to Emblaze for the American market is a no brainer. Volvo can still claim the tie to Norse mythology without embarrassing itself in the same way Nissan's predecessor would have been the laughing stock of this country with the name Fairlady.
Would have to check the time line to make sure, but Chrysler was Mercedes (i.e. merged) for awhile. Good chance then that the MB origin would still hold.
Not sure how informative it is, but apparently the trademark application for the name Embla was only applied for in Europe. Hopefully that is a good sign for us in the U.S. where the name Embla conjures up images of embalming.
That may well be true, but is of little consolation to buyers who intend to keep their battery powered vehicles well past the warranty period. Almost sounds like leasing or buying extended warranties is the only protection a consumer will have.
Thinking more about "extended warranties" generally when a vehicle cannot be repaired it would be replaced. Again, a lot of consolation for a battery depleted buyer to get another equally old vehicle with a battery on its last legs since one would doubt the warranty company is going to come through with a brand new vehicle as the replacement.
Added to that question is the apparent impossibility of even replacing a battery so what are you really getting with the warranty, even if it is extended, - the option of the car being "totaled" at its likely minimal depreciated value?
Now if the warranty is for a new car if the battery fails then that would make the VIP extended coverage of value.
Anyone else catch the Polestar Super Bowl Ad?
It is surprising how little has been leaked. Perhaps the days of automotive spy photographers has gone the way of actual investigative journalism.
Those photos add to the impression that Volvo is returning to its wagon roots. Call it a SUV but if it quacks like a wagon it is still a wagon.A Dutch magazine had a background article regarding Volvo's upcoming large EV. All well known information such as the name, EV only, reference to Recharge Concept, SPA2, the production location and some remarks XC90 will be built for a while. So nothing news.
What I wanted to share with you are the photoshops they made. I always struggle a bit with the original Recharge Concept proportions, while too much ground clearance and those small tires. I have to admit that their impression looks a lot better.
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With all these uncertainties it would certainly seem prudent to get one's order in as soon as possible rather than to hope for some modified model a year or two from now, assuming one is satisfied with the product now available. Same thing in spades for Overseas Delivery.
likeXC90's point is well taken, without advance press releases already out by now those future models are likely at least two years away based on the previous time lines. Can one imagine trying to come out with a new model and not even knowing if the parts to build it can be made available for another year beyond what they would have been pre-COVID?
As it is the factory in Sweden is currently operating at a much slowed pace due to the unavailability of just one type of chip. When we toured the factory last week the stamping and body shops were clearly not working at capacity with most of the robots idled and only the assembly shop seemed to have significant activity as they saved some of the power trains to be married to the bodies so we could see some action. Reportedly the shifts have been all but eliminated for two days of the week when normally there are three shifts a day.
likeXC90's point is well taken, without advance press releases already out by now those future models are likely at least two years away based on the previous time lines. Can one imagine trying to come out with a new model and not even knowing if the parts to build it can be made available for another year beyond what they would have been pre-COVID?
As it is the factory in Sweden is currently operating at a much slowed pace due to the unavailability of just one type of chip. When we toured the factory last week the stamping and body shops were clearly not working at capacity with most of the robots idled and only the assembly shop seemed to have significant activity as they saved some of the power trains to be married to the bodies so we could see some action. Reportedly the shifts have been all but eliminated for two days of the week when normally there are three shifts a day.
Interesting. Instead of announcing that the product would be available by the fourth quarter this year it Is now "more details on that product" will be released. Definitely sounds like the time frame for production itself is evidently out of Volvo's hands."...asked by Autocar if it was still on track to arrive in 2022, Volvo CEO Jim Rowan said: "We are very much on track. We've made commitments that we would be launching a certain amount of vehicles every year, and we'll make the decision on when we release that, but the fourth quarter this year is when we will release more details on that product."
New 2023 Volvo EX90 to be revealed today | Autocar
Range-topping Volvo EV to get innovative safety tech and use new SPA2 platformwww.autocar.co.uk
Details may be months away, but production may have slipped year(s) away despite Volvo's best intentions. A lot may depend on whether the current chip and supply issues improve or worsen.
Then too we may see the new Embla (or whatever it ends up getting called in the U.S.) go into some type of limited production for its first year or so with a very limited supply.
It is not just Volvo facing these challenges. There was a piece on the radio news last night about how Ford is in the same boat but there is one small car that is really taking off. (It turned out that the tease was that the small car is Mattel's matchbox series.
. )Oh no - thick dust on SC factory floor - I completely missed that one.
Sounds like a pretty "safe" prediction, at least with regard to Embla. The prior talk had been that production would begin in 2022 with vehicles not being at dealers until 2023. Only thing that may have changed is that production will begin at the U.S. plant as little as a month or two later. Availability in 2023 always was a big unknown.
Until there is an official announcement exactly when those dates will be remains speculation. But I don't recall any "insiders" of recent being quoted as to there being an available Embla at dealers until 2023.
As to start of production it shouldn't be that hard to source a leak since the plant is here in the U.S. and multiple suppliers would have to be in the loop.
Perhaps it was a hologram?
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