Volvo has unveiled the new look of its forthcoming XC40 SUV with its 40.1 concept car. Unveiled at an event in Gothenburg, the model was shown alongside another small family car called Concept 40.2. The first production models to be produced as part of its joint development work with the Chinese owner Geely.
The 40.1 features a hybrid powertrain with a 3-cylinder petrol turbo engine that working with an electric motor. The 40.1 reveals that – despite carrying the same engine branding as the XC90 T8 – the new XC40 will be front-wheel drive. The concept’s powertrain is described as T5 Twin Engine and uses a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine, closely related to the existing 2.0-litre four, and drives the front wheels in conjunction with an electric motor and by a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
The petrol engine produces 180bhp and electric motor adds 74bhp, with power coming from a compact 9.7kWh battery pack mounted in the centre of the car. That is a total combined output of 250bhp for the petrol-electric powertrain and it will have 30 miles of pure electric range. Fuel economy and CO2 numbers have not been released yet, but powertrain boss Michael Fleiss promises that it will be class-leading.
Production versions of these cars will replace the current V40 sold in markets outside North America, though it is expected a new V40 hatchback/wagon will make it to the U.S. and Canada by the end of the decade.
The new XC40 concept also gets a trendy floating roof to go with its sharper angles. Styling carries through much of the form language of Volvo’s larger products, along with front-end design similar to the XC90 and an angular athleticism to the 40.1’s side-on profile. There is also a passing resemblance to a Citroën C4 Cactus with its cladding removed.