
Volvo's 30-car EV plan, VW ID.3 GTI and Saudi Arabia's 1,100bhp EV
Volvo is planning 30 new cars by the end of 2030, and electric estates and saloons could be back. In this week's Everything EV, Matt Allen and George go through Volvo's big strategy announcement. They also cover a new wave of electric hot hatches and a 1,100bhp electric car from Saudi Arabia. First up is Volvo. Outgoing CEO Håkan Samuelsson has set out 30 new models across three regions: seven for Europe and the US on the SPA2 and SPA3 platforms, and six China-only cars built on Geely technology. He also admitted Volvo may have "leant a little bit too hard" into SUVs, and physical buttons are coming back. Matt and George share their electric Volvo wish list, including an EX70 Cross Country, and look at what new boss Klaus Zellmer brings from Skoda. Then there are the hot hatches. The Volkswagen ID.3 GTI replaces the GTX and promises to be the most powerful GTI yet. It's based on the ID.3 Neo and shares its 322bhp rear motor with the Cupra Born VZ. Can it fix the ID.3's reputation? Vauxhall is also teasing an Astra GSE for 2027, previewed by a GS Line car at the Paris Motor Show, to follow the Corsa and Mokka GSE. The team look at how it could compare with the ID.3 GTI, Born VZ and MG4 XPower, and what Stellantis might charge for it. Finally, Saudi Arabia is building electric cars. Its new brand Ceer is launching a saloon and an SUV with three-motor all-wheel drive, around 1,100bhp, falcon-inspired gullwing doors and a 48in screen. Five more models are promised by 2030. In this episode: Volvo's 30-car plan for 2030, and the return of electric estates, saloons and physical buttons Volkswagen ID.3 GTI: a proper hot hatch or a rebadged GTX? Vauxhall Astra GSE confirmed for 2027, and why 2026 has been a great year for electric hot hatches Ceer, Saudi Arabia's 1,100bhp electric saloon and SUV Next week: George drives the Peugeot e-208 GTi New: Plugged In Our new long-form podcast, Plugged In, is out now. In the first episode, we meet Richard Morgan, founder of Electric Classic Cars, to talk about converting classics from VW Beetles to Ferrari Testarossas to electric power. Search "Plugged In EV Powered" wherever you listen. Read more on all these stories at evpowered.co.uk, email the team at editorial@evpowered.co.uk and follow @evpowered on social media.