The current XC90 has been on the market since late 2002 and it remains the only Volvo to ride on the automaker's circa-1998 P2 architecture (which also underpins most of Ford's larger vehicles, ranging from the Taurus to the Explorer and Lincoln MKS).
Staying in line with Volvo's goal to have a more efficient and cleaner lineup, the next XC90 will be powered by a series of downsized gasoline- and diesel-burning four-cylinder engines dubbed Volvo Environmental Architecture (VEA). A plug-in hybrid model that uses a drivetrain co-developed by Volvo and Siemens is also said to be in the works.
Teaser sketches
The Swedish automaker released a quartet of sketches late last year that show off a decidedly more voluptuous XC90. Although all four sketches don't appear to be of exactly the same vehicle, they do at least provide some insight into the direction Volvo is hoping to take with its next-generation crossover.
At the time of its introduction, XC90 was a midsize three-rower, but the market has moved toward larger three-row vehicles and smaller two-row vehicles. With the XC60 firmly anchoring the midsize portion of Volvo's crossover lineup, the XC90 will grow to better compete against vehicles like the recently-unveiled Infiniti JX and the Acura MDX.
The sketches come from Volvo's Concept Center in Southern California, which explains the fact that the front view doesn't quite match any of the tail ends. A firm decision probably hasn't been made at the automaker's Gothenburg, Sweden, headquarters, so these images are probably designed to test the waters.
One image appears to be almost a larger version of the current XC90, while others take a different direction more akin to the small C30. Intriguingly, the C30 was the last Volvo Peter Horbury designed during his first stay at Volvo. The XC60 and the S60 are both the work of Steve Mattin, but Horbury is back at Volvo's helm. Horbury's work is generally considered conservative but fluidic, while Mattin's designs have been controversial among stylists. Is Horbury putting his mark back on Volvo?
