Volvo Cars has unveiled the new EX60 – an electric crossover that unexpectedly turned out to be faster than the base BMW M3. And this is one of the most telling symptoms of how the modern automotive industry is changing. The top version of the Volvo EX60 P12 received a dual-motor system with 670 hp. According to initial tests, the crossover can accelerate to 100 km/h in approximately 3.4 seconds. For comparison: the base BMW M3 with a manual transmission does this in about 4.1 seconds.

Volvo EX60
Volvo EX60
Источник изображения: Volvo

The most remarkable thing is the contrast in character. For decades, the M3 has been considered the benchmark for a sports sedan, with an emphasis on driving feel, chassis balance, and ICE performance. The EX60, on the other hand, looks like a typical Scandinavian family SUV with minimalist design and a huge set of electronic systems. But the instant torque of electric motors completely changes the rules of the game.

The new model is also technologically important for Volvo. The EX60 is the brand's first car on the SPA3 platform with an 800-volt architecture, megacasting production, and battery integration into the body's power structure. The company also uses a new HuginCore computing system, developed jointly with Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Google.

Fast charging is another key argument. Volvo claims the ability to replenish up to 160 miles of range in about 10 minutes at powerful DC stations. For the brand, this is a step towards new generation cars, where software architecture becomes no less important than the engine or suspension.

The paradox is that today even a relatively calm family crossover is already capable of accelerating faster than iconic sports sedans. And for traditional performance brands, this is becoming an increasingly serious challenge.

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