Geely and Volvo jointly develop new cars

Geely will jointly build a new series of small luxury cars with Volvo, covering cars and SUVs, etc., and eventually replace the Volvo V40 around 2017; the cooperation project also involves Geely's future models.

New car comes out in 2017

According to media reports in recent months, Geely and Volvo are ready to cooperate in the development of new compact cars. Autocar and other foreign media have recently received more information on new cars, pointing out that the new series of cars will include a five-door crossover SUV, a hatchback, a car, and possibly more models, mainly used to replace the V40. Compact car.

Due to the modular nature of the new platform, the project will also create a variety of Geely new cars of similar size and specifications, with more economical affordability in terms of engine, suspension and convenience functions.

In mid-September 2013, Geely Automobile and Volvo Cars of Geely Holding Group jointly established a European research and development center, China Euro Vehicle Technology. The center's CEO Mäts Fagerhag said in an interview with the Gothenburg headquarters a few days ago that the cooperation project may create a series of five models with different levels of sophistication. All the models have a high degree of commonality with each other.

Mäts Fagerhag did not elaborate on the timing of the new car, but suggested that the first car may be available in 2017. The first models will be developed simultaneously in Sweden and China, involving the Volvo and Geely brands. A variety of new cars will be released at relatively short intervals.

Cooperative modular common platform

Lex Kerssemakers, senior vice president of Volvo’s product strategy and automotive production line, revealed at the opening of the R&D center last year that Geely and Volvo will share the C-class platform. “The new compact platform will be developed at the Gothenburg R&D center and will use part of the SPA (Scaleable Platform Architecture). The concept of scalable platform architecture."

The media pointed out that this new compact platform is called the C-segment Modular Architecture (CMA), while the European and American standard C-class vehicles are corresponding to China's A-class vehicles, ie compact cars.

Modular common platform has been the trend of the development of global car companies. Volvo and Geely are also focusing on the development of the field. A Volvo spokesman said: "If you are currently creating a new architecture in the automotive industry, you need to build sustainable models, because this is a modern means of cutting costs. A clear example is the Volkswagen MQB platform, of course, we Doing similar things."

The new platform is versatile and modular in nature, capable of creating economies of scale in R&D, testing, and parts procurement, cutting costs, and increasing competitiveness.

Volvo has launched SPA's extensible platform architecture. In 2014, the first car XC90 based on the platform will come out. The smallest size car derived from the SPA platform is the next-generation S60, so Volvo needs a new platform to build a compact car/class A car.

In Volvo's view, if the platform covers too many models and the scope of extension is too wide, performance will be compromised among various models, and it is difficult to achieve an ideal level. Geely and Volvo's pioneering platform for this cooperation was born.

Fagerhag described the new compact platform as enabling the project's subsystems to "plug-and-play", simplifying processes and complying with regional safety and emissions regulations.

Challenge Golf and Fox

According to foreign media, the new compact platform jointly developed by Geely and Volvo will be the blueprint of the V40 class vehicle, and the goal is to challenge Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. However, Volvo said that the new platform will not be used for the new Geely-Volvo brand, which is located between Geely and Volvo.

In addition to the Volvo V40, Volvo also intends to release a compact luxury SUV, or named XC40, with the Range Rover Aurora racing market.

British media disclosed that Volvo intends to launch the so-called XC40, which is equivalent to the Audi Q3 and Range Rover Aurora. Insiders said that such an XC40 can "adapt to the brand and sell in large quantities." At present, Volvo's best-selling models are the XC90 and XC60. Today, the miniaturization of luxury cars and market exploration have become a trend. The XC40 can fill the gap in Volvo's product lineup.

Geely and Volvo will jointly build a new compact platform that will provide the basis for the Volvo XC40. According to foreign media estimates, it may take five years or so for the XC40 to come out, and the new platform is also expected to produce a variety of different models such as compact cars, mid-size cars, and SUVs.

In terms of powertrain, the new platform will be equipped with a Drive-e series engine just like the SPA platform. The Drive-e series has a modular character and is based on a single cylinder with three or four cylinders. The entire engine family can be used in Volvo's full range of models, completely replacing five- and six-cylinder engines, not only improving fuel economy and improving emissions, but also reducing costs.

Drive-e series engines were publicly exhibited at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. The diesel version used the world's first i-Art technology. Volvo said that the series of engines with hybrid systems can achieve the torque ratio of the V8 engine in a four-cylinder configuration. The new XC90's four-cylinder engine, for example, has a power output of 300 hp, a torque of 295 lb-ft (400 Nm), and an electric motor torque of 148 lb-ft (200 Nm).

Considered working with other car companies

Mäts Fagerhag stated that Volvo and Geely had considered seeking other car manufacturers as partners, but eventually decided to cooperate on their own, “We will determine our own destiny”. Prior to this, Fagerhag was responsible for negotiating with other car companies.

Lex Kerssemakers, head of product strategy, also revealed that "Volvo must find a partner." In 2012 Volvo said that it will seek partners to jointly develop the next generation of compact cars. After Geely Automobile and Volvo openly cooperated in technology, compact cars became one of the collaborative contents. However, so far as some of the news channels have pointed out, the Geely-Volvo Alliance will have third-party partners.