New renderings shared on the Worldscoop forum claim to show the next Volvo XC90. It appears to be a patent image, although we can’t confirm a specific source. However, the plot thickens a bit when we have done find the latest trademark filing from Volvo for the EXC90 name. Is it just a coincidence that the image and name appear at the same time?
We knew Volvo would be all-electric. An EV successor to the XC90 has been confirmed, and Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson confirmed last year that the name will start with a vowel. At the time, we speculated that it could be called Embla, as it was a trademark protected by Volvo. Obviously, simply adding the E to the familiar XC90 moniker also fulfills the criteria, so things seem pretty straightforward. This could be an all-electric Volvo EXC90 before you should even see it. Possible.
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We say that because this could also be a facelifted XC90 using the current hybrid powertrain. In February 2022, Samuelsson stated that the XC90 would continue to be produced and sold alongside the next-generation EV, at least for the time being. Further, the CEO says the XC90 will receive an updated styling. The rendering here can certainly be identified as XC90, especially in profile.
However, we suspect this is indeed an electric model. At the front we see thin headlights with vertically oriented corner vents on the fascia, flanking a solid grille. The lack of grille detail could be due to the nature of the rendering, but things are more convincing at the rear. The design of the new taillights closely resembles the company’s Recharge concept, a vehicle that “represents the manifesto for the future of Volvo’s electric cars” according to the automaker. There’s also no indication of the exhaust outlet anywhere on the lower rear fascia.
With the alleged EXC90 patent and trademark images confirmed, could an official debut be imminent? Last year, Volvo said an electric successor to the XC90 would come in 2022. Supply chain issues have caused delays at nearly every automaker on the planet, but there’s still nearly half a year left for Volvo to meet its 2022 deadline.
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