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Volvo’s EV is Coming for Tesla’s Model 3 and the Chevy Bolt

By Miles Branman March 21, 2017

Chevrolet’s new Bolt EV has made a big splash, earning numerous accolades and awards for its impressive range, driving dynamics, styling, and interior volume.

Part of what makes the Bolt so impressive is how quickly Chevy introduced an EV with well over 200 miles of range, for $36,000. For now, those specs are unmatched in the marketplace. However, with Tesla working on its entry-level Model 3 and Nissan preparing a new Leaf, the Bolt’s uniqueness may be short lived.

It would appear Volvo wants in on the affordable electric vehicle action as well, as Volvo Car USA’s CEO, Lex Kerssemakers shed some light on their upcoming model. Most importantly, the EV will have a range of at least 250 miles and will be priced between $35,000 and $40,000 (before tax incentives).

Despite Volvo’s luxury bent, a sticker price of up to $40K could easily cannibalize the Bolt EV’s sales when the model goes on sale in 2019. Tesla plans to have its Model 3 out before then, but with the first vehicle deliveries expected to be higher-priced examples, the “$35K Model 3” may not actually ship until around the same time as Volvo’s creation.

No other premium automaker has claimed to be developing a long-range EV in the sub-$40K domain. Jaguar is working on its I-Pace production car, but that will be priced at over $60K. BMW’s i3 is in the low-$40K range, but doesn’t match the range advertised by the Bolt EV or upcoming Tesla and Volvo models.

The forthcoming Volvo EV will be based on the 40.2 concept shown last year, meaning the vehicle will likely be a derivative of the next generation S40 sedan. There’s also a good chance Volvo will produce a compact crossover variant of the EV, based on the next generation XC40 (previewed by the 40.1 concept). This would match up against Tesla’s planned Model Y crossover.

Like other brands, Volvo is hurrying to introduce more plug-in hybrids and EVs to meet strict emissions regulations and appeal to buyers on the hunt for luxury alternative energy vehicles.

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Thought the M3 Competition was hardcore? You’ll want to avoid the lighter, more powerful M3 CS

2024 BMW M3 CS front end angle from passenger side parked on a racetrack.

Usually, BMW only introduces hardcore variants of its two-door models. Its sedans, even the M-branded ones, have usually been seen as the more accessible models for everyone to enjoy. That’s changed recently with vehicles like the M5 CS and now with the new M3 CS. Forget about the M3’s friendly demeanor and approachability, the M3 CS is out for blood and makes the already bonkers M3 Competition look like chum in the water.
The main difference between the limited-edition BMW M3 CS and other M3s in the lineup is some extra power. The CS-badged option gets a retuned version of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that’s rated at 543 horsepower compared to 503 horsepower in the M3 Competition xDrive. The extra boost in performance comes from, you guessed it, extra boost pressure. The M3 CS’s engine is running at 30.5 psi, while the M3 Competition operates at 24.7 psi. Torque goes unchanged at 479 pound-feet of torque.

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Survey: Auto execs aren’t as confident as they used to be about EV adoption

Auto executives believe high car prices, a possible recession, and supply chain issues are to blame

Tesla Model 3s charging outside of a work building in a parking lot.

Automakers may be coming out with electric vehicles, but the people running the brands aren’t confident that electric cars will catch on. In a recent global auto survey by KPMG, global automotive executives expressed concern over the rate of EV adoption compared to last year, citing economic concern and continued supply chain problems.
Roughly 900 automotive executives (more than 200 respondents were CEOs and an additional 200 were C-level executives) took part in KPMPG’s annual auto survey. the majority of respondents, 76%, expressed concerns of how high interest rates and inflation will adversely affect their business next year. For auto executives in the U.S., the figure was higher at 84%. One of the major concerns that auto executives have is the adoption of electric vehicles in the U.S. and globally by 2030.

Last year, KPMG’s survey revealed that estimates of new electric cars being sold by 2030 ranged from 20% to 70%. This year, the figure ranged from 10% to 40%. The median expectation for EV sales in the U.S. were that they would represent 35% of new vehicle sales. This figure is well below what it was from last year when it was 65% and is far less than the Biden administration’s goal of having EVs account for 50% of new car sales by 2030.
Automotive executives are less optimistic about the adoption of electric vehicles this year for a few reasons. In the U.S., the Inflation Reduction Act made large changes to the EV federal tax credit. Stricter price caps are in place for EVs, and electric cars have to meet ludicrous requirements for battery components, final assembly points, and critical components. These requirements have drastically reduced the number of EVs that are eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit. Other reasons include the high prices of vehicles, rising prices for battery components and raw materials, fears of a recession, and supply chain constraints.
Gary Silberg, KPMG global head of automotive, told CNBC that long-term optimism for EVs still exists, but automakers and automotive executives are starting to become more realistic.“There’s still a sense of optimism long term, and yet, most important, there’s a sense of realism in the near term. You see this realism throughout the entire survey,” said Silberg. “You can be long-term optimistic, but near term, you’ve got to be very realistic. It’s not rainbows and butterflies and euphoria anymore, it’s game on.”
Unsurprisingly, executives that took part in the survey believe that Tesla will continue to be a global leader in EVs, though its lead over traditional brands is expected to shrink. What is surprising is that executives believe that Apple will be a market leader in EVs in the very near future. While Apple has reportedly been working on an EV for years, it hasn’t showcased anything concrete. Audi and BMW followed closely behind Tesla as automakers that will lead the EV car market in 2030.

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Mercedes-Benz EQG front end angle from passenger's side on a platform in front of a futuristic skyline

The all-electric craze is in full swing, and automakers are bringing new electric cars to market at a blistering pace. While the last few years have been an exciting time for EVs, the next several years are going to be even more thrilling. 2021 and 2022 saw electric vehicles go mainstream, while 2023, 2024, and 2025 will be the years when they really begin to shine.
A lot of new electric vehicles are expected to come out over the next few years — like, a dizzying number. If we were to cover all of the upcoming electric vehicles that are expected to arrive in the near future, we would end up writing a novel. Instead, we’ve compiled a list of the seven coolest electric vehicles that we’re the most excited to see in the future.

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The Alpha5 is a serious EV that looks toward the future. It has gullwing doors, four seats, an expected range of 300 miles, and a claimed 0-to-88 mph time of 4.35 seconds. The EV will be a low-volume model with fewer than 10,000 cars expected to be produced.