By: Dave Abrahams
Gothenburg, Sweden - If there is one thing you can't accuse Chinese automakers of, it's lack of vision, not to say ambition.
Volvo owner Geely is upfront about taking the Swedish niche brand mainstream, replacing every model in its line-up within the next four years and increasing global sales to 800 000 cars a year before 2020.
That process has already started with the introduction of the second-generation XC90, the first vehicle to be built on Volvo's Scaleable Product Architecture platform. It'll continue with the upcoming launch of the S90 luxury sedan, which replaces the current S80, and a still-to-be-confirmed V90 station wagon.
Now Volvo has revealed a smaller version of this 'adjustable' platform called Compact Modular Architecture, on which it is planning a whole range of compact cars that will push the badge into new segments.
These will be built initially in the Volvo plant at Ghent in Belgium, and possibly later at a Geely factory in China, starting with the already-confirmed XC40 compact crossover, which should be ready to go in 2017.
A longer-wheelbase version of the V40 and a replacement for the C30, under the working title C40, are also being considered.
TWO PLATFORMS
That means that all Volvos for the foreseeable future, from the new XC90 onwards, will be built on just two fully-scalable platforms.
The SPA platform will be home to the powerful T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid system, while the new CMA architecture has been designed from the outset around a new T5 combustion/electric plug-in powertrain.
These two modular programmes (because that's what they are: computer programmes) were developed side by side, and they share some very important fixed points, such as engine mountings, firewall brackets, fascia geometry and, m ost important of all, the distamce from the front axle to the firewall.
The concept is based on computer technology; it's all 'plug and play', because no matter how much the designers stretch and morph the parameters, the engine and gearbox mountings, suspension struts and mounting holes for the aircon and electronic components will still line up.
This means they'll be able to share and interchange not only engines and drivetrains - plug-in hybrid as well as conventional - but also expensive components such as air-conditioning, infotainment hardware and safety systems, which Geely hopes will generate significant economies of scale and a more streamlined manufacturing process.
Like we said, it's a grand vision.