“The EX30 is a car with the perfect short overhang and roofline,”
said T. Jon Meyer, Head of Design at Volvo. On the 29th, Volvo Korea held a media roundtable with T. Jon Meyer at Peaches Do Won in Seongsu-dong, Seoul.
T. Jon Meyer has been responsible for the design of several models, including the XC and S series, and took charge of the exterior design of the EX30.
The EX30 is a small electric SUV model that marks Volvo’s transition to an electric vehicle brand. Its front end is inspired by a helmet of a science fiction movie character, creating a confident face. The Thor’s hammer-designed headlights and vertical tail lamps emphasize Volvo’s symbolism.
The EX30 has many advantages compared to existing internal combustion engine vehicles. T. Jon Meyer noted, “The interior space is more spacious than internal combustion models.” With the removal of the engine room, the overhang has shortened, and the wheelbase has expanded to a compact segment level.
It’s impossible not to talk about the interior of the EX30. The interior is unfamiliar compared to existing vehicles, with a centralized function layout.
The driver’s instrument panel has disappeared, and a 12.3-inch center display in the middle provides all driving information during operation. All physical buttons have also vanished, merging into the center display.
T. Jon Meyer emphasized, “We moved the passenger side glove box to the center and applied the glove box button to the center display, minimizing the driver’s movements.” He mentioned that the glove box was moved to the center to address the uncomfortable experience of stretching to the passenger’s glove box for items like sunglasses or parking tickets while driving.
Furthermore, T. Jon Meyer stated, “Integrating physical buttons into the EX30’s center display is effective,” adding, “Various buttons relevant to the driving situation are displayed on the screen during operation.” For example, when parked, the trunk button appears on the display.
The EX30 is equipped with a 69kWh battery and a 200kW rear motor, allowing it to travel up to 475 km according to WLTP standards. It will start its European launch in early next year, with a domestic release in the second quarter, priced at 49.45 million won for the Core trim and 55.16 million won for the Ultra trim.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr