Volvo teases ‘time machine’ concept for 2015 LA Auto Show

By Stephen Edelstein Published October 21, 2015

Today may be Back to the Future Day, but Volvo is waiting until the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show next month to unveil its “time machine.”

At least, that’s how Volvo is coyly describing the concept car it plans to unveil in L.A. on November 18. While details are scarce, the concept apparently won’t feature gullwing doors, a flux capacitor, or the ability to transport its driver to situations that could lead to time paradoxes.

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“You won’t be able to go back in time,” said Anders Tylman-Mikiewicz, head of the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center,” but when our planned concept is applied to an SPA-based vehicle, it has the potential of giving significant time back to drivers.” So this concept will really be more of a “time-saving machine” than a “time machine.”

It may also preview an upcoming Volvo production model. SPA is the shorthand for Scalable Product Architecture, the modular platform that debuted with the 2016 XC90, and that will underpin most Volvo models sold in the U.S. going forward. The next production model based on the platform will likely be the S90 full-size sedan.

In just a few years, every model will be based on either SPA or the newly-introduced Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) for compact cars. Between the two platforms, Volvo plans to launch 14 new models over the next three years, replacing everything in its current lineup besides the just-launched, SPA-based XC90.

That’s not all the company apparently has in store. It plans to launch an electric car by 2019, and to increase the number of plug-in hybrids in its lineup in the meantime. An S90 plug-in hybrid will likely join the XC90 T8 model that will go on sale in the U.S. soon. That includes sporty Polestar models tuned by the company, which Volvo purchased earlier this year.

Stephen Edelstein

Former Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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