This large 100% electric Chinese minivan will soon be badged Volvo

While generalist brands have almost all thrown in the towel, premium manufacturers are the only ones to still believe in minivans. Mercedes has just restyled its B-Class. As for its great rival BMW, it recently overhauled its Active Tourer from top to bottom. But there is something even stronger. After Lexus which, to everyone’s surprise, recently launched a hybrid van to counter the Mercedes V-Class, we have just learned that Volvo will soon do the same. The rumors running on the web for a few days therefore spoke true. For a surprise, it’s a hell of a surprise! And this, especially since SUVs now reign supreme in the range.

Presentation on November 12

There is not the slightest doubt, Volvo Car France has published a press release in which it specifies that this model will be unveiled on November 12th. This newcomer, who was not expected in the least in the world, already has a name, it is the EM90. Once the model is presented, orders will be immediately opened in China. The French press service, however, sees fit to specify that “the commercial launch of the Volvo EM90 is not planned in France”, while adding “to date” which could be paraphrased by “for the moment”. An arrival in France is therefore not to be excluded in the more or less long term. After all, why not, since the Lexus van, the LM, is going to arrive here. And then, what’s the point of communicating about this model here if it’s to do nothing about it afterwards?

A Zeekr 009 with Swedish sauce

Of this future model, Volvo does not say much. However, the only photo shared as a teaser allowing us to discover the vehicle above as well as the main characteristic mentioned by the Gothenburg brand – namely that it will be a 100% electric model – do not leave too much room for doubt. It will be a close cousin of the Zeekr 009. Zeekr probably means nothing to you. It is a manufacturer of Chinese origin belonging to the same automotive group as Volvo, Geely in this case, and which should land in certain European countries from 2024, including France (yes, another .

As for the 009, it was officially presented at the end of last year. All its technical specificities are not known but those that are surprising. Its dimensions are not quite suitable for our narrow European since it is the size of a limousine (5.21 m long), but it should thus more than comfortably accommodate six passengers on board. Finally, don’t be fooled by its massive look, its aerodynamic coefficient is rather good (Cx of 0.27), it is for example better than that of a Peugeot 308 of the latest generation (0.28). Which, combined with a battery with a more than reasonable capacity of 140 kWh, allows it to run 822 km on a single charge on the Chinese combined cycle. Impressive values. Do you want more ? Its two electric motors deliver a combined power of 400 kW (just over 540 hp). Despite a weight that we imagine very high, the 0 to 100 km/h is only a simple formality, count 4.5 s to carry out this exercise!

Impressive technical characteristics which will naturally have a price. The Lexus LM, “simple” hybrid offered from €123,700 on our soil, undoubtedly gives us an indication. Probably nothing to worry about its main targets, luxury hotels or airports.

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