While three months ago Volvo backed away from its commitment to go electric-only by 2030, it continues to invest heavily in the EV space and will grow its range. However, it remains undecided on whether or not it should release an all-electric estate that could compete with the likes of the BMW i5 Touring, Audi A6 e-tron, and VW ID.7 Tourer.

There have been some hopes that Volvo would launch electric EV60 and EV90 models after these two names were trademarked a couple of years ago. The company itself has said it will launch a new model every year for the next five years, and one of these will include a new electric sedan, joining the brand’s existing EX30, EX40, and EX90 EVs. When quizzed about the possibility of an electric estate joining this range, Volvo UK managing director Nicole Shaw said no final decision has been made.

Read: Volvo Abandons EV-Only Promise, Will Sell Mix Of Powertrains Past 2030

“It’s too early to say, because it’s only December; in another quarter, I might have more of a feeling on how it’s done,” she told Auto Express. “When it comes to anything we evolve, the electric space is the one we evolve into.”

Volvo has been mulling the idea of an electric estate for quite some time. Last year, chief executive Jim Rowan said the brand could absolutely make a compelling electric estate, but noted it would have to make business sense, and with estate sales declining, that could be difficult.

“I get so many emails asking me when somebody is going to do a proper electric wagon – mainly from people in northern Europe and Maine! But then you say, ‘What if we did that?’ and ask ‘What if we did a Cross Country version of it?’. Would that be something that would work in our portfolio?” he said.

“The point really is whether we should do it – is there enough margin there, is there enough demand for that car? Are people really going to say, ‘Okay, I’d rather have a nicely designed wagon than choose a sedan [saloon] or an SUV’? Do we think the market is going to move back into that area? Because demand for estate cars and saloons has gone down in Europe. It’s a decision that we need to make, and we need to make it with the market intelligence that we have.”

At the forefront of Volvo’s mind at the moment is the upcoming ES90 electric sedan. This new model will be unveiled in March 2025 and is expected to use the same SPA2 platform as the EX90 SUV. The ES90 may also be equipped with the same 111 kWh battery pack and offer similar dual-motor powertrain setups producing 402 hp and 510 hp.

Volvo, a brand synonymous with safety and Scandinavian design, has long balanced practicality with understated style—a tradition likely to continue with the upcoming battery-electric ES90 flagship sedan set to debut in March 2025. But what happens when that future is reimagined through a daring retro lens?

Independent designer Jordan Rubinstein-Towler has taken it upon himself to offer a thought-provoking answer to that hypothetical question with his fictional 2026 Volvo 240 concept. This reimagined version serves as a modern homage to the brand’s iconic, boxy past, while seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology and premium design elements to bring the classic silhouette into the 21st century.

More: BMW’s E30 M3 Reimagined As A Modern Neue Klasse Tribute

As much as Volvo has turned not just a page but an entire chapter in its design evolution in recent years, ask any buyer—or better yet, an auto enthusiast—what the most iconic Volvo design is, and chances are they’ll say the 200 Series.

The original Volvo 200 Series, produced from 1974 to 1993 as the successor to the equally angular 100 Series—both the work of designer Jan Wilsgaard—has since achieved cult status. It’s often hailed as the indestructible automotive equivalent of the Nokia 3310: sturdy, unkillable, and unapologetically utilitarian. But in Rubinstein-Towler’s vision, this stalwart is reimagined for a very different era, one where charm must coexist with cutting-edge connectivity and aerodynamic finesse.

Classic Meets Contemporary Design

Illustrations Jordan Rubinstein-Towler

Building on the retro-racing ethos of his earlier Polestar 4040 concept, which itself paid homage to the motorsport legacy of the Volvo 240, Rubinstein-Towler’s 2026 interpretation rethinks the roadgoing sedan and wagon. While the proportions and upright stance are unmistakably faithful to the original, the concept injects contemporary flair. Boxy headlights and the trademark black-pillared greenhouse nod to the past, while the execution feels anything but dated.

Modern design elements, like Volvo’s signature “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlight graphics, streamlined alloy wheels, and taut, clean surfacing, bring the fictional 240 firmly into the 21st century. Meanwhile, subtle aerodynamic flourishes, such as slim bumper intakes and neatly integrated side gills, elevate its efficiency beyond the brick-like aerodynamics of its predecessor.

Tech-Forward Interior with Retro Flair

Illustrations Jordan Rubinstein-Towler

The independent designer, who many of you may remember for his awesome Acura Integra Type R concept, took the time to create a minimalist interior for the fictional Volvo, adding high-tech features and sustainable materials. Here, he strikes a sweet balance between nostalgia and innovation, imagining a cabin that manages to be retro without veering into kitsch.

Unlike the portrait infotainment display of modern Volvo offerings, the 240 adopts a more conventional and much slimmer, horizontally-arranged, digital cockpit, accented by tactile physical controls—a restrained but welcome rejection of the touchscreen glut. The four-spoke steering wheel, a deliberate callback to the 200 Series, and fabric-upholstered seats with a distinctly Scandinavian vibe tie the cabin to Volvo’s legacy.

What It Could Be Based On

The 2026 Volvo 240 was designed as an EV, something that is evident from the fully sealed grille and the absence of exhaust pipes. The mid-size sedan could, in theory, ride on the Geely-sourced SPA2 platform shared with Volvo’s EX90 SUV, leveraging a hefty 111-kWh battery pack and dual electric motors producing up to 510 horsepower (380 kW / 517 PS). The potential for such a powertrain adds a sense of plausibility to the otherwise speculative project.

Electric Dreams?

And yet, as is the fate of most independently-designed concepts, this reimagined Volvo 240 will likely remain a digital fantasy. Still, it’s hard not to imagine how a production version might disrupt the market. In an alternate universe, this retro-inspired EV could seamlessly replace the S60 and V60, injecting some much-needed character into the midsize segment—perhaps even giving BMW’s forthcoming Neue Klasse a proper rival.

What do you think; should Volvo take a second look? Head over to the comments and have your say.

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Volvo introduced the EX30 in the summer of 2023 and it was originally slated to arrive in America this year. However, things apparently got derailed by higher tariffs on Chinese EVs.

While Volvo didn’t come out and state the obvious, the automaker cited “changes in the global automotive landscape.” The company added that models bound for America would now be built in Ghent, Belgium instead of Zhangjiakou, China.

More: The 2025 EX30 Is Volvo’s Smallest And Fastest Model Ever, Starts At $34,950

This would enable the automaker to avoid hefty tariffs, but it was originally slated to push the U.S. launch back to 2025. However, the EX30 is getting here earlier than expected as Volvo announced deliveries will begin late this year.

Customers who preordered the model are being invited to configure their electric crossover and Volvo said “deliveries of select examples” will begin in the coming weeks. Specifics are few and far between, but the automaker is prioritizing the pricey EX30 Twin Motor Performance which starts at $44,900.

The company said they’re doing this in “response to strong consumer demand.” The Single Motor variant is slated to follow in 2025 and that will be the one to watch as pricing begins at $34,950.

As a refresher, the EX30 Twin Motor Performance has a 69 kWh battery pack that feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing 422 hp (315 kW / 428 PS) and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm) of torque. This enables the crossover to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.4 seconds and have an EPA range of 253 miles (407 km). When low, a 153 kW DC fast charging capability enables the battery to go from a 10% to 80% charge in roughly 26 minutes.

The EX30 Single Motor Extended Range is similar, but it features a rear-mounted motor developing 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS) and 253 lb-ft (343 Nm) of torque. This results in a slower 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 5.1 seconds, but a longer range.

Beginning today, all-electric Volvo owners have access to the North American Tesla Supercharger network. The automaker is rolling out details about how its customers can charge up at the newly integrated stations. Some owners will need an adapter while others will end up with a car that already has an NACS port.

Specifically, electric Volvo owners now have an additional 17,800 places to charge across the USA and Canada. To take advantage of those stations, current owners of electric Volvo cars will need an NACS adapter. Those are now available through dealers for $230 but keep in mind that they won’t begin shipping until November 18. It’s worth noting that the EX30 is not included in this rollout. Volvo says that “availability of adapters for the EX30 will be announced later.”

Read: Cybercab Has No Charging Port, But Tesla Promises 90% Wireless Efficiency

“As part of our journey to electrification, we want to make life with an electric car, including our new flagship EX90, as seamless as possible,” said Mike Cottone, President, Volvo Car USA and Canada. “Today we are taking a major step to providing access to easy and convenient charging infrastructure for Volvo drivers in the United States and Canada, furthering our commitment to EV adoption.”

Volvo’s 2025 lineup of EVs will come standard with a NACS adapter. In all cases, Volvo owners will need to use the Tesla application on their smartphone to use the Supercharger network. They can find other charging locations through the Volvo Cars application. It’s also worth noting that Polestar vehicles also gained access to the Supercharger network today with similar timelines and constraints.

All of this comes as more and more automakers are switching to NACS and enabling access for their customer base. Ford, Hyundai, and General Motors all provide a measure of Supercharger access at this point and other brands are planning similar moves, including newly relaunched Scout.