The 2018 Volvo XC40 has been spotted testing on UK roads ahead of its anticipated 2018 market launch.
Despite the heavy camouflaging, we know the car, which has also been seen in continental Europe, will use a design influenced by the 2016 Concept 40.1 and introduce a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine when it's launched in 2018.
Volvo XC40 review
As shown by the spotted development vehicles, the upcoming rival to the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA has an angled tailgate and butch nose design like Volvo's 2016 concept, suggesting the production model will also inherit the new light designs of that car.
Volvo's engineers have fitted a large section of camouflage in front of the recently spotted XC40's C-pillars, hinting at an unconventional window line, likely resembling the angled one that was seen on the concept.
Speaking to Autocar earlier this spring at the launch of the London Taxi Company's (LTC) new electric taxi - which Volvo has helped develop - Volvo CEO HÃ¥kan Samuelsson hinted that a new three-pot engine would be introduced to the range via the XC40 by stating that it's destined for an upcoming CMA-based model (which the XC40 is).
The engine is derived from Volvo’s existing four-cylinder 2.0-litre unit, and will be joined by both diesel and petrol engines, with and without turbocharging, in the XC40 line-up.
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Just stop it
Lets hope the window line
Peugeot have shown with the 3008 that is possible to design a stylish and modern SUV without the silly angled rear pillar and reduced glass area so many of these models have slavishly copied in recent years. Its time to move on.
It does. Concept 40.1 is
The hybrid powertrain sounds
The Apprentice wrote:
I take it you havent heard of the XC90 T8 Hybrid, 7 seater with a decent boot. Volvo designed it from scratch to be a hybrid, and it is therefore not compromised, unlike the similar sized Q7, which has its two rearmost seats removed in hybrid form making it strictly a 5 seater.
Citytiger wrote:
Of course I know of that, but its beyond reach for most people as it costs £60,000+ £25,000 more than the Mitsubishi.
Or put it another way
Does that mean the normal volume seller Diesel engined version is a compromise then?
xxxx wrote:
No version is compromised, the platform was designed from scratch to accept petrol, diesel or plug in hybrid power. Hence the reason that irrespective of what powers it, it retains 7 seats. Not all markets are dominated by diesel sales, and the plug in Hybrid T8 is actually selling better than expected.. Its currently a petrol hybrid, but because of a bit of forward planning, Volvo can also without much effort turn it into a diesel hybrid, but at the moment they are not planning to.
Heated Steering Wheel, Heated Front Windscreen, Heated Washer Nozzles, Headlamp Cleaners
£525. Family
Integrated Sun Curtains - Rear Doors, Power Child Locks (Rear Doors), Integrated 2-Stage Booster Cushion for Centre Seat, 2nd Row, Load Protection Net
£450. and the sat nav map appears in the instrument binnacle between the speedo and rev counter.
Any other questions xxxxCap?
Questions and the cost of safety
Qu: If you want heated nozzles and powered child locks for safety reasons why do Volvo charge £1,000 on their cars including ones costing £40,000 + when other manufactures give it away or charge £35 (nozzles) like Skoda? Also, if you design a car to accept either petrol and petrol/Hybrid then of course there's compromises!
The hybrid bits will not be