MQB platform architecture. Designed for transverse-engine FWD/AWD use, the lone constant characteristic among all the vehicles under which it is or will be used is the dash-to-axle distance. The flexibility in component selection allows it to underpin everything from the C-segment SEAT León to VW’s upcoming seven-passenger crossover. Now Volvo has released details about its similar undertaking, the “SPA” (for Scalable Product Architecture) modular chassis system that has been in development for the past four years. It will first come to market under the 2016 XC90.
“Around 90 percent of the components in the all-new XC90 and upcoming models are new and unique,” notes Dr. Peter Mertens, senior VP of Volvo R&D. Given that the current XC90 is more than a decade old, we should hope so. Volvo’s new all-four-cylinder strategy pairs well with the new concept, which is designed to easily accommodate the company’s preferred Haldex AWD system or the larger battery packs required for plug-in hybrids. Simply apply an amount of forced induction to a common 2.0-liter engine and add electricity if desired. A four-pot diesel will naturally slip into the same space, although we Americans are unlikely to see oil-burning Gothenburgers dotting our roads anytime soon.
SPA’s modularity extends to its electrical system, allowing for increases in computing horsepower and facilitating the replacement of individual components as newer/better developments are made. Given that one of the challenges facing in-car tech is the stark difference in product cycles between automakers and gadget manufacturers, the new architecture should theoretically permit Volvo to plug in new tech as it comes to market, allowing the automaker to more quickly iterate its vehicles and maintain a tighter connection to the electronic whims of the populace.
For a relatively small operation like Volvo, production-line flexibility is an especially large boon; the company notes that everything from the S60 on up can be produced on the same line. In theory, that means an SPA V60 T6 could roll off the line right after an S60 T6, which could be followed by an XC90 T8 plug-in.
After a rough half-decade that included a sale from Ford to Geely, Volvo has had to make some tough choices. It is also making some smart ones. We found ourselves impressed during our ride in the upcoming XC90 and called the recently arrived V60 “the best-looking wagon in the business.”
- First Ride: 2016 Volvo XC90 SUV Prototype
- Volvo “Twin Engine” XC90 is the 400-hp Plug-In Hybrid to Watch
- Volvo XC90 Research: Photos, Reviews, News, and More
When VW rolled out MQB, pundits rightly noted that one major flaw in a modular system could theoretically bring a large chunk of an automaker’s lineup to its knees. And while the consequences of that would certainly be massive for Volkswagen, it could flat-out sink a company like Volvo. Nevertheless, the company is confident enough that it’s putting its future eggs in the SPA basket. If the products built on SPA work as well as the company’s recent aesthetic endeavors, the venerable Swedish brand could well see a reversal of its flagging fortunes here in the states, the company’s largest market.
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