Volvo may be preparing a quiet comeback for one of its most iconic body styles: the traditional low-slung saloon and estate. The brand’s next-generation electric architecture, known as SPA3, has been engineered with far greater flexibility than before, opening the door to lower, sleeker vehicles even in the era of battery-electric cars.
A platform built for flexibility
The SPA3 platform, debuting with the upcoming EX60, represents a clean-sheet EV architecture rather than an adaptation of an internal-combustion platform. This change alone dramatically alters how key components—especially the battery—can be packaged within the vehicle.
Unlike many electric platforms where battery size dictates ride height, SPA3 has been designed so battery capacity no longer determines how tall the car must be. This gives Volvo engineers the freedom to create both high-riding SUVs and genuinely low-profile cars from the same architecture.
The absence of an engine, exhaust system and fuel tank allows a complete rethink of structural layout. The result is a scalable platform capable of supporting a wide range of body styles—from SUVs and MPVs to sleek saloons and estates.
Why many EVs sit high
Many electric cars today ride higher than traditional combustion models because their battery packs sit entirely beneath the passenger compartment. This raises seating positions, rooflines and overall vehicle height, often giving even saloon-shaped EVs a crossover-like stance.
SPA3 tackles this constraint through smarter packaging. Because the front crash structure is no longer designed around an engine, battery cells can be distributed more freely across the floor and even slightly forward of the cabin. This reduces the need for a uniformly flat, thick battery layer under the entire car.
The architecture also enables so-called “foot garages” in the rear passenger area—recessed spaces that allow occupants to sit lower, much like in traditional combustion-engine vehicles. With rear-seat height reduced, the roofline and window profile can also remain low, preserving classic proportions.
A return to classic Volvo silhouettes?
Volvo’s current range is dominated by SUVs, and even its saloon-shaped ES90 sits higher than traditional four-door models due to its older SPA2 architecture. That platform required seats and footwells to sit entirely above the battery, lifting the car significantly.
SPA3 removes this limitation. Engineers can now adjust battery placement, scuttle height and structural layout to achieve dramatically lower vehicles. In technical terms, the platform offers a wider design bandwidth, allowing engineers to prioritise aerodynamics, stance and proportions without being constrained by battery packaging.
This flexibility raises the possibility of future electric successors to the classic S60 and V90—models that defined Volvo’s reputation for understated, elegant estates and saloons. A hypothetical electric “ES60,” for example, could compete directly with upcoming premium electric sedans such as the next-generation BMW i3, Mercedes C-Class EQ and Audi A4 E-tron.
Demand will decide
While Volvo has not confirmed any specific new low-slung models, the technical groundwork is now in place. The company’s engineering team has emphasised that the platform can support both tall and low vehicles with equal ease—the final decision will depend on market demand and product strategy.
If customers show renewed interest in sleek, ground-hugging electric cars, Volvo now has the tools to deliver them. And if that happens, the return of the brand’s signature estates—long valued for their balance of practicality, safety and Scandinavian design—could mark a notable shift in the EV landscape.
