Volvo’s first stand-alone electric car will be a production version of the 40.2 concept seen in May last year, Autocar can reveal.
Much like the 40.1 concept unveiled alongside it, which has since become the production Volvo XC40 crossover, very few design details will change for the final model. When first revealed, it was widely reported that the 40.2 was a hint at the next-generation V40 and S40 but, in fact, the concept’s electric powertrain gave the biggest clue of all.
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However, the coupeÃ-like hatchback will fall under the 40-badged family of models, given its size and concept name, and broadly share the same design language as its siblings.
Volvo has officially confirmed that a stand-alone electric model will arrive in 2019 but has not given any more details. However, boss HaÌŠkan Samuelsson told Autocar at the XC40 launch in September that it would arrive before any electric variants of existing models. An electric XC40 is expected to be the second pure-electric Volvo.
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The 40.2 will be based on Volvo’s new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), which underpins the firm’s smaller products and those of its Chinese parent company Geely and accommodates all types of powertrains, including electric.
In the concept, the battery-electric powertrain offered a range of 217 miles. However, R&D boss Henrik Green, talking more broadly about Volvo’s electric plans, said it was aiming for around 310 miles for its production electric model – on a par with rivals such as Volkswagen’s ID electric line-up.
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Green said: “That’s the area [of range] we’re aiming at. We’re in the middle of development and we are constantly chasing new steps. It’s quite different to developing a car compared to five or 10 years ago. You set a prerequisite three or four years before a car’s launch and you ran towards that target, and if you did that well, you came out with a competitive offer.
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It looks beautiful in my eyes
Finally some action from Volvo, it looks perfect. They always knew how to manage the design properly..
Volvo owner here too
Not sure why being a Volvo owner makes my opinion more valuable, but whatever. I'm on Volvo #3, does that mean I get a bigger say? ;)
Anyway, forget these silly pictures, we'll see what it looks like when it goes on sale.
Maybe "bowsersheepdog" isn't keen simply because it's electric? I assure you, our Leaf goes everywhere...
Losing direction
As the owner of two Volvos I see that hideous lump and think it has to be one of the ugliest heaps of shit ever to be plonked on wheels. That it's electric only exacerbates the awfulness of it. Volvo need to have a drastic rethink before they ruin the company beyond redemption. Electric cars are going nowhere.