At a Glance
- Volvo’s new EX60 electric SUV debuts with a sleek roofline-because the lidar bumps were simply left out of the press photos
- The 800-volt platform promises 503 miles WLTP range and 210 miles in 10 minutes on 400-kW chargers
- First Volvo with Google Gemini, Snapdragon/Nvidia brain, and a multi-adaptive seat belt that tensions in real time
- Why it matters: Buyers eyeing the flagship may not realize the optional lidar system brings back the roof warts Volvo spent years trying to hide
Volvo has finally pulled the wraps off the EX60, the electric mid-size SUV that slots between the compact EX40 and flagship EX90. The reveal images show a clean, aerodynamic roof-exactly what many fans wanted after the EX90’s prominent lidar hump drew criticism. But there’s a catch: the car in the photos doesn’t have the optional lidar system installed.
Sources tell News Of Fort Worth that customers who tick the lidar box will, in fact, see the same bumps return. A Volvo designer admitted at the EX90 launch that the team struggled to integrate the sensor puck cleanly, and the brand even resorted to long-lens launch shots to downplay the protrusion. By choosing to debut the EX60 without the hardware, Volvo keeps designers happy-and risks misleading shoppers who assume the sleek profile is standard.
Range and charging numbers that rival BMW
Volvo quotes a maximum 503-mile WLTP range, translating to “well over 400 miles” on the stricter EPA cycle. An 800-volt architecture allows 210 miles of EPA range to be added in 10 minutes, provided you find a 400-kW charger and arrive with the battery between 10 and 20 percent. Drop to a more common 250-kW stall and the 10-minute gain falls to 173 miles-still competitive with the upcoming BMW iX3.
A 10-to-80-percent charge takes 19 minutes in ideal conditions. Drag coefficient is 0.26, helping the large SUV hit those range targets without an oversized pack.
Cell-to-body pack and megacast rear floor
Unlike rivals still using modules, Volvo welds the cell-to-body pack directly into the structure. The company claims a 20 percent energy-density gain and simultaneous weight and space savings. Few manufacturers have committed to this route, though more are expected to follow.
Megacasting also plays a starring role. An 8,400-ton aluminum press spits out the entire rear underbody as one piece, replacing roughly 100 stampings and welds. Tesla and XPeng use the same technique, but Volvo says the EX60 shows its first mainstream application across the lineup.
Computing power and Google Gemini
Under the dash sits the Snapdragon Cockpit Platform paired with Nvidia Drive AGX Orin and Qualcomm’s new 8255 CPU. Total throughput: 250 trillion operations per second, enough to run Google Gemini, the first appearance of Google’s AI assistant in a Volvo. BMW recently announced Alexa+ for the iX3, so the Swedish brand is answering with Mountain View’s tech.
Pilot Assist Plus handles highway steering and lane changes up to 80 mph, but remains hands-on-no “eyes-off” autonomy yet.
World-first multi-adaptive seat belt
Volvo invented the three-point belt in 1959; now it unveils the multi-adaptive version. Sensors monitor occupant size, crash severity, and traffic conditions, then tension the belt in real time. The company calls it the biggest leap in seat-belt tech since the original.
Door-tabs and Cross Country flavor
Exterior handles disappear in favor of tiny pull-tabs, echoing the Ford Mustang Mach-E. To satisfy looming Chinese rules that require a mechanical release operable after a crash, the tabs are purely mechanical-no electric motors. Designers keep the flanks clean while regulators get their backup.
A Cross Country variant adds plastic arch cladding, black door moldings, and air suspension that lifts ride height 20 mm for light trail work.
Deliveries and pricing
Showrooms should see the EX60 around summer, but Volvo hasn’t released pricing. The combustion-powered XC60 remains on sale for buyers not ready to plug in.
Key Takeaways
- Optional lidar means the roof bumps return; base cars stay sleek
- 800-volt tech delivers BMW-beating charge speeds
- Cell-to-body pack and megacasting trim weight and parts count
- First Volvo with Google Gemini and a self-adjusting seat belt
