The Volvo XC40 has once again been spotted testing in the UK. A scaled down version of the XC60, the XC40 will be a production version of the Volvo Concept 40.1 which was unveiled last year.
The Volvo XC40 retains several important design cues like the ‘Thor’s Hammer’ lights and wide-mouth grille with the Iron Mark emblem. The XC40 will be the first model to be based on the CMA front-wheel-drive platform, co-developed with Chinese manufacturer, Geely. Both petrol and diesel engine options include 1.5-litre three-cylinder and 2.0-litre four-cylinder units. It will also be offered with a T5 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid model for the top-spec variant. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission will power the front wheels.
Being one of the entry-level crossovers in Volvo’s line-up, the XC40 will play an important role in generating volumes. With an unveiling at the 2017 Shanghai Motor Show, the Volvo XC40 is expected to go on sale by the last quarter of 2017. It will compete against the likes of the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA. With the GLA proving that such crossovers work wonders in the Indian market, we can also expect the XC40 to be launched in India by early next year.
Source: xc40forums