At the end of last year a custom car company called Everlast stepped into the spotlight by announcing the first-ever aftermarket upgrade packages for the EX30, the smallest Volvo SUV ever made. That's right, someone thought it would be a good idea to give a Volvo a makeover, and that's something the industry doesn't throw at us very often.
The EX30 is an electric SUV that was first thrown our way in the summer of last year. It came about as the Swedish carmaker's first foray into an untapped but hugely promising segment of the market. And it's a model Volvo expects to be "one of our best-selling models" in the coming years.
Styled pretty much as all other Volvos around, with a clean-cut body and an imposing presence, the EX30 is powered by electric motors and a battery pack that can be had in one of three configurations over in Europe.
First up we have the SUV packing a single-motor and a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that is ideal for low-intensity use in cities. The comes the Single Motor Extended Range variant running a Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) battery, and the list closes with the Twin Motor Performance version that also packs the NMC battery.
Over in the U.S., where the small SUV is expected to really start rolling this year, only the final two variants are offered, with capabilities that are not something to be easily overlooked.
The Single Motor Extended Range packs its electric motor on the rear axle and hides a battery with a capacity of 69 kWh. The motor is rated at a respectable 268 horsepower, while the range is expected to sit somewhere at around 275 miles (443 km).
Photo: Everlast
The top-of-the-range Twin Motor Performance throws in electric motors for each of the two axles and a battery with the same capacity as on the other SUV. Thanks to this, although the range remains pretty much the same (265 miles/426 km), power levels get a significant bump to 422 horsepower.
Now, all of the above paints a pretty decent picture of what Volvo has to offer in this segment, but for some reason Everlast decided the overall EX30 package doesn't really match the capabilities, and decided to give the SUV an upgrade.
Before getting into what the upgrades are all about, you should consider the fact that Everlast is tied to Netherlands-based Heritage Customs, a name that's been giving us crazy interpretations of Land Rovers for years now.
In the winter of last year the company announced two distinct upgrade packages for the Volvo EX30, called Sport and Outland. Only the former, the Sport, is the focus of our attention today, because Everlast revealed the first two builds using this package.
Two identical Volvo electric SUVs entered the Everlast shop and came out the other way in Onyx Black and Cloud Blue. The distinct colors are not there just to make the visual distinction easier but also as a means to highlight an important change that's not visible to the naked eye: the black EX30 comes with the original suspension system, while the blue one features a lowered sport setup.
The two cars also display two distinct sets of wheels, although both of them can be had by customers regardless of the body color of the SUV. Both designs are one inch larger than the stock Volvo wheels, sitting at 21 inches in diameter.
Photo: Everlast
The first set of wheels, officially named Everlast Duo Spoke, comes in a double four-spoke design and can be had either in full diamond-cut or satin black with a diamond-cut edge double spokes. The wheels have been drawn in such a way as to mirror design cues on the lower door panels and lower body.
The second set of wheels for the Swedish SUV is called Everlast Block Spoke and it is offered either in a full diamond-cut facia or in satin black with a diamond-cut outer ring.
The Sport package for the EX30 throws into the mix color-matched body elements (roof, lower bumpers, door cladding) that are offset by bright orange accents on the front and rear spoilers and on the wheel center caps.
The front end of the SUV wearing the Sport package is the recipient of the Everlast insignia on the left bottom corner, while the rear receives a matte black surface that holds the Everlast logo between the taillights.
The company says the Sport package for the EX30 (just like the Outland, for that matter, but we're yet to see that one on an actual build) can already be pre-ordered. As announced in December, the price for the two packages is set at around 10,000 euros ($10,600).
It's unclear at this point whether customers in the U.S. will be able to get their hands on the Everlast goodies. If not, they can be satisfied with the fact that the starting price of the EX30 off the Volvo lot is lower than the one in Europe: $34,950 vs 36,000 euros.
Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies. Full profile
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