The 2018 Volvo XC40 has been revealed. Volvo will use the XC40 small SUV to build a greater presence for the brand in the booming premium SUV segment.
Hot on the heels of the all-new XC60, this is Volvo’s third entry in the SUV segment, which highlights the ever-growing nature of the SUV market. The XC40 will have its work cut out, it’s a competitive place to do business. The big three German brands have strong offerings in the premium small SUV segment and Jaguar is readying the E-PACE to launch.
The 2018 XC40 is an all-new model built on the new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, which was co-developed with Chinese parent company Geely. The XC40 is the first model from the 40 Series which will share the same underpinnings via this platform. This will also include future fully electric vehicles.
President and chief executive, Håkan Samuelsson, said: “The XC40 is our first entry in the small SUV segment, broadening the appeal of the Volvo brand and moving it in a new direction. It represents a fresh, creative and distinctive new member of the Volvo line-up. So it only feels natural to reveal the XC40 here in Milan, a buzzing European hotspot for fashion, art, design and lifestyle.”
Safety, connectivity and technology are key themes carried through to the XC40 from the new 90 and 60 Series. Volvo claims that the technologies found on the XC40 make it ‘one of the best-equipped small premium SUVs on the market’.
In terms of safety and driver assistance features, the XC40 boasts features such as the Pilot Assist system, City Safety, Run-off Road protection and mitigation, Cross Traffic alert with brake support and a 360-degree camera that assists parking.
Volvo is also proud of the storage features built into the car. Many functional storage spaces built into the doors and under the seats provide a place to store any number of items. There are also special spaces for phones which including inductive charging technology, a fold-out hook for small bags and a purpose-built removable waste bin incorporated into the tunnel console.
Kevin McCann, Managing Director of Volvo Car Australia said: “We wanted the XC40 to be a fresh, creative and distinctive member of the Volvo line-up, allowing its drivers to put their personality in their driveway. Drivers want a car that reflects their personality, and the XC40 is that car. The exterior has an athletic sculpture, while the interior of the XC40 is multifaceted and ingenious, making it yet another example of our human-centric approach. The XC40 is a perfect car for an active Australian lifestyle, and perfectly represents our ongoing transformation plan.”
The XC40 will be available initially with a D4 140kW/400Nm diesel or a T5 182kW/350Nm petrol four-cylinder Drive-E engine. Other powertrain options, including a hybrid and fully electric version, will be available in the not-too-distant-future. There are also plans for the XC40 to be the first Volvo model to offer the brand’s new three-cylinder engine.
Production of the new XC40 will begin in November at the Volvo Cars’ plant in Ghent, Belgium. This is something of a surprise, it’s inevitable the majority of Volvo manufacturing will move to China at some stage.
With a relatively small dealer network and a badge that doesn’t hold the same cachet as other European marques, sharp pricing will be vital if the XC40 is going to succeed Down Under.
Australian specifications and pricing will be released closer to the XC40’s local launch.
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