2018 Volvo XC40 Release Date, Specs News: Compact SUV to Launch Later This Year
Volvo has confirmed that the all-new XC40 will be launched later this year. The compact crossover will be the first vehicle in the family of 40-series models which preview the direction that the Swedish automaker will take as part of its global small car strategy.
In an interview with AutoCar, Volvo's senior vice president for Research & Development, Henrik Green, confirmed that the compact crossover will be launched in the fall and that base development for the upcoming vehicle has been completed.
"There's a big chance it'll be one of the most successful cars in our line-up," the Volvo executive revealed.
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The small sports utility vehicle (SUV) will be based on the Volvo 40.1 concept that was introduced last year. It will use Volvo's Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) that is designed to deliver bold, youthful and energetic small cars that are able to stand out in the urban jungle.
Based on spy shots of the XC40, the upcoming compact SUV retains much of the Volvo 40.1 concept's dimensions and design. Likewise, it is expected to bear similarities to the XC90. Volvo's signature design elements like Thor's hammer headlights are also likely to be featured.
Upon its release, the XC40 will serve as the third SUV in Volvo's lineup. However, Green hinted that more vehicles will be coming in the future. Their current range only serves as a starting point as the automaker sees a lot of potential in the SUV's interesting body style.
"It's interesting what you can do with SUVs. They started as off-roaders, then moved to the city. What they gave customers was good ingress and egress, a good overview of traffic and a feeling of being in command. These are all attributes we could give to customers in lots of different shapes and bodies, not necessarily traditional ones," he explained.
Green also mentioned Volvo's plans to release their first electric vehicle in 2019.
The Volvo XC40 is expected to compete with the BMW X1, Audi Q3, Infiniti QX30 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA. More specific details for the all-new crossover will be revealed closer to its official launch.
