VOLVO XC40
DIGITAL VIEWING OF THE NEW VOLVO XC40
Another first for Volvo
The arrival of the newly-introduced Volvo XC40 means that for the first time in its history, Volvo Cars has three SUVs in what is the fastest-growing segment of the automotive market.
THE NEW XC40 IS THE FIRST MODEL CONSTRUCTED ON VOLVO CARS’ NEW COMPACT MODULAR VEHICLE ARCHITECTURE (CMA), WHICH WILL, ACCORDING TO THE BRAND, UNDERPIN ALL OTHER FUTURE CARS IN THE 40 CLUSTER – INCLUDING FULLY ELECTRIFIED VEHICLES. CODEVELOPED WITHIN GEELY, CMA PROVIDES THE COMPANY WITH THE NECESSARY ECONOMIES OF SCALE TO PRODUCE A SEGMENT COMPETITOR SUCH AS THE XC40 SUCCESSFULLY.
THE TECH
Regarding technology, the XC40 brings the award-winning safety, connectivity, and infotainment technologies we’re familiar with from the new 90- and 60-cluster cars to the compact SUV segment.
These technologies bring high levels of standard spec to the compact premium SUV market. Safety and driver assistance features on the XC40 include Volvo Cars’ Pilot Assist semi-autonomous assistance 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 PRACTICALITY
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 holder for smartphones with inductive charging capability, a fold-out hook for small bags, and a removable waste bin in the tunnel console.
THE POWER
From the start of production, the XC40 will be available with D4 diesel or T5 petrol four-cylinder Drive-E powertrains. Further powertrain options, including a hybrid and pure-electric version, will be added at a later stage. The new XC40 will also become the first Volvo model to be available with Volvo Cars’ new 3-cylinder engine.
THE PERK
With the introduction of this new small SUV, Volvo also hopes to reinvent the traditional model of car ownership with its new Care by Volvo subscription service. Care by Volvo, first available on the XC40, is making having a car as transparent, and hassle-free as having a mobile phone.
A monthly flat-fee subscription means deposits, price negotiations and local price differences belong in the past, and depending on regional availability, Care by Volvo will also include access to a range of digital concierge services such as fuelling, cleaning, service pick-up and e-commerce delivery to the car.
A new car sharing feature which is also part of Care by Volvo as standard will allow new Care by Volvo XC40 drivers to share their car with friends and family with new digital key technology.
LAST WORD
In South Africa, the Care by Volvo business model, Volvo on Call and related services are under scrutiny for introduction in South Africa. Production of the new Volvo XC40 begins in Volvo Cars’ production plant in Ghent, Belgium, in November 2017.
Although local introduction is provisionally scheduled for the second quarter of 2018, look out for our driving report on the new XC40 in the January 2018 edition of Driven. We will be taking to the Portuguese countryside during the car’s international test drive in Lisbon towards the end of November 2017.