LIKE a proud set of parents, Volvo Cars has today watched its new small premium SUV come into the world. A baby brother if you will to the much larger XC90 and mid-sized XC60, with the funky looking XC40 unveiled in Milan, Italy.
The arrival of the XC40 means that for the first time in its history, Volvo Cars has three new, globally available SUVs in what is the fastest growing segment of the automotive market, and the most popular market sector in Australia.
The new XC40 is the first model built on Volvo Cars’ new modular vehicle architecture (CMA), which will underpin all other upcoming cars in the 40 Series including fully electrified vehicles. Co-developed within Chinese parent company Geely, CMA provides the company with the necessary economies of scale for this segment.
“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,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive. “It represents a fresh, creative and distinctive new member of the Volvo line-up.”
In terms of technology, the XC40 brings the award-winning safety, connectivity and infotainment technologies known from the new 90 and 60 Series cars to the small SUV segment. Like its larger siblings, the XC40 highlights the transformational effect of these new, in-house developed technologies.
These technologies make the XC40 one of the best-equipped small premium SUVs on the market. Safety and driver assistance features on the XC40 include pilot assist system, city safety, run-off road protection and mitigation, cross traffic alert with brake support and the 360° Camera that helps drivers manoeuvre their car into tight parking spaces.
The XC40 also offers a radically new approach to storage inside the car. Ingenious interior design provides XC40 drivers with, among other things, more functional storage space in the doors and under the seats, a special space for phones including inductive charging, a fold-out hook for small bags and a removable waste bin in the tunnel console.
“Volvo has a strong leadership in design. The new XC40 is no exception, even by our already high standards,” said Kevin McCann, Managing Director of Volvo Car Australia.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
From the start of production, the XC40 will be available with a D4 diesel or a T5 petrol four-cylinder Drive-E power train. Further power train options, including a hybridised as well as a pure electric version, will be added later. The XC40 will also be the first Volvo model to be available with Volvo Cars’ new 3-cylinder engine.
Production of the new XC40 starts in Volvo Cars’ plant in Ghent, Belgium in November and it is expected to go on sale in Australia in the second quarter of 2018.
