Volvo on EV

'Customers don't want quirky electric vehicles' he told What Car?. 'Our electric vehicles will be in existing models'.

1. No stand-alone electric Volvos
2. Existing models will be electrified
3. Three-cylinder petrols and diesel due

Volvo's electrification process has started with the V60 plug-in hybrid model and that technology will appear in future models, including the next-generation XC90 SUV, which will go on sale in 2014.

Mertens also admitted that work has started on three-cylinder diesel and petrol engines for future Volvo models. Likely recipients of the new engines will be the replacement for the V40 and a new small SUV, dubbed XC40. Both are being jointly developed using new architecture with parent company Geely.