Currently reading: Volvo XC40 - future BMW X1 rival spotted testing on UK roads
New spy shots of Volvo’s upcoming small SUV suggest that its design will stay true to that of Volvo's striking 2016 concept

The 2018 Volvo XC40 has been spotted testing on UK roads ahead of its anticipated 2018 market launch.

Despite the heavy camouflaging, we know the car, which has also been seen in continental Europe, will use a design influenced by the 2016 Concept 40.1 and introduce a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine when it's launched in 2018.

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As shown by the spotted development vehicles, the upcoming rival to the Audi Q3BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA has an angled tailgate and butch nose design like Volvo's 2016 concept, suggesting the production model will also inherit the new light designs of that car.

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Volvo's engineers have fitted a large section of camouflage in front of the recently spotted XC40's C-pillars, hinting at an unconventional window line, likely resembling the angled one that was seen on the concept.

Speaking to Autocar earlier this spring at the launch of the London Taxi Company's (LTC) new electric taxi - which Volvo has helped develop - Volvo CEO HÃ¥kan Samuelsson hinted that a new three-pot engine would be introduced to the range via the XC40 by stating that it's destined for an upcoming CMA-based model (which the XC40 is).

The engine is derived from Volvo’s existing four-cylinder 2.0-litre unit, and will be joined by both diesel and petrol engines, with and without turbocharging, in the XC40 line-up.

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The new three-cylinder engine will also be available in hybrid guise, producing 180bhp and mated to a 74bhp electric motor. This setup is similar to the one used in the LTC electric taxi, but Samuelsson explained that the Volvo's main power source would be the three-cylinder, whereas that car uses the engine purely to charge its batteries.

The front-wheel-drive XC40 hybrid, called the T5 Twin Engine, will have a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox which will also receive direct input from the electric motor. The hybrid will be capable of driving up to 30 miles under electric power alone.

The new XC40 will be the first Volvo to use the brand’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) which will underpin several more of Volvo's models, as well as by its parent company Geely, for its Chinese-market models.

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If the XC40 follows the trend set by the larger XC60, which will launch this year as a Jaguar F-Pace rival, it could feature a sportier set-up than previously on regular Volvos in order to cater to European demand for sharper-handling cars.

Given its place in the small SUV segment, the XC40 will likely be priced competitively against its rivals which all cost from slightly more than £25,000. Higher-specification XC40s could also be considered as rivals to the Range Rover Evoque, which is priced from £30,600.

The XC40 is expected to be revealed later this year as the first of three 40 series range models. It'll be followed by a S40 saloon and V40 Estate in 2019. The latter car will be available in both regular and the more rugged Cross Country guises.

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bowsersheepdog 10 May 2017

Just stop it

Looks like somebody's been taking pot shots at it. And with good cause, it's horrible. For pity's sake Volvo, you make great estate cars, pack it in with these reprehensible jeeps, they're ugly, useless, stupid, wasteful and unnecessary. Pushing something which is intended for farmers and mountain rescue for use instead of a decent family car is a senseless and untenable blight on our society. It behoves a respectable company like Volvo, which has show the way to make fine estate cars for many, many years to lead the way and break this cycle of stupidity.
catnip 6 February 2017

Lets hope the window line

Lets hope the window line doesn't follow that of the 40.1 concept.
Peugeot have shown with the 3008 that is possible to design a stylish and modern SUV without the silly angled rear pillar and reduced glass area so many of these models have slavishly copied in recent years. Its time to move on.
RoadsterMX5 7 February 2017

It does. Concept 40.1 is

It does. Concept 40.1 is very accurate.
The Apprentice 6 February 2017

The hybrid powertrain sounds

The hybrid powertrain sounds interesting, but as this car I presume will be smaller than the current XC60, by the time they stuff the hybrid bits in you will end up with another compromised 'no boot' car. For all its faults no one has learnt from the Mitsubishi PHEV, its one big point (for all its plenty other faults) is 'no compromises needed' so big boot, plenty of cabin space. Not that its cleverly packaged, there are plenty of wasted spaces onboard but they took as a base a vehicle big enough in the first place to stash all the stuff on and still leave a usable family vehicle. Its sad because the market is crying out for family friendly low company car tax vehicles and that cry is going to get much louder next few years.
Citytiger 6 February 2017

The Apprentice wrote:

The Apprentice wrote:

The hybrid powertrain sounds interesting, but as this car I presume will be smaller than the current XC60, by the time they stuff the hybrid bits in you will end up with another compromised 'no boot' car.

I take it you havent heard of the XC90 T8 Hybrid, 7 seater with a decent boot. Volvo designed it from scratch to be a hybrid, and it is therefore not compromised, unlike the similar sized Q7, which has its two rearmost seats removed in hybrid form making it strictly a 5 seater.

The Apprentice 7 February 2017

Citytiger wrote:

Citytiger wrote:
The Apprentice wrote:

The hybrid powertrain sounds interesting, but as this car I presume will be smaller than the current XC60, by the time they stuff the hybrid bits in you will end up with another compromised 'no boot' car.

I take it you havent heard of the XC90 T8 Hybrid, 7 seater with a decent boot. Volvo designed it from scratch to be a hybrid, and it is therefore not compromised, unlike the similar sized Q7, which has its two rearmost seats removed in hybrid form making it strictly a 5 seater.

Of course I know of that, but its beyond reach for most people as it costs £60,000+ £25,000 more than the Mitsubishi.

xxxx 7 February 2017

Or put it another way

Citytiger wrote:
The Apprentice wrote:

The hybrid powertrain sounds interesting, but as this car I presume will be smaller than the current XC60, by the time they stuff the hybrid bits in you will end up with another compromised 'no boot' car.

I take it you havent heard of the XC90 T8 Hybrid, 7 seater with a decent boot. Volvo designed it from scratch to be a hybrid, and it is therefore not compromised,.....

Does that mean the normal volume seller Diesel engined version is a compromise then?

Citytiger 7 February 2017

xxxx wrote:

xxxx wrote:
Citytiger wrote:
The Apprentice wrote:

The hybrid powertrain sounds interesting, but as this car I presume will be smaller than the current XC60, by the time they stuff the hybrid bits in you will end up with another compromised 'no boot' car.

I take it you havent heard of the XC90 T8 Hybrid, 7 seater with a decent boot. Volvo designed it from scratch to be a hybrid, and it is therefore not compromised,.....

Does that mean the normal volume seller Diesel engined version is a compromise then?

No version is compromised, the platform was designed from scratch to accept petrol, diesel or plug in hybrid power. Hence the reason that irrespective of what powers it, it retains 7 seats. Not all markets are dominated by diesel sales, and the plug in Hybrid T8 is actually selling better than expected.. Its currently a petrol hybrid, but because of a bit of forward planning, Volvo can also without much effort turn it into a diesel hybrid, but at the moment they are not planning to.

Heated Steering Wheel, Heated Front Windscreen, Heated Washer Nozzles, Headlamp Cleaners
£525. Family

Integrated Sun Curtains - Rear Doors, Power Child Locks (Rear Doors), Integrated 2-Stage Booster Cushion for Centre Seat, 2nd Row, Load Protection Net
£450. and the sat nav map appears in the instrument binnacle between the speedo and rev counter.
Any other questions xxxxCap?

xxxx 23 March 2017

Questions and the cost of safety

Citytiger wrote:
xxxx wrote:
Citytiger wrote:
The Apprentice wrote:

The hybrid powertrain sounds interesting, but as this car I presume will be smaller than the current XC60, by the time they stuff the hybrid bits in you will end up with another compromised 'no boot' car.

I take it you havent heard of the XC90 T8 Hybrid, 7 seater with a decent boot. Volvo designed it from scratch to be a hybrid, and it is therefore not compromised,.....

Does that mean the normal volume seller Diesel engined version is a compromise then?

No version is compromised, the platform was designed from scratch to accept petrol, diesel or plug in hybrid power. Hence the reason that irrespective of what powers it, it retains 7 seats. Not all markets are dominated by diesel sales, and the plug in Hybrid T8 is actually selling better than expected.. Its currently a petrol hybrid, but because of a bit of forward planning, Volvo can also without much effort turn it into a diesel hybrid, but at the moment they are not planning to.

Heated Steering Wheel, Heated Front Windscreen, Heated Washer Nozzles, Headlamp Cleaners
£525. Family

Integrated Sun Curtains - Rear Doors, Power Child Locks (Rear Doors), Integrated 2-Stage Booster Cushion for Centre Seat, 2nd Row, Load Protection Net
£450. and the sat nav map appears in the instrument binnacle between the speedo and rev counter.
Any other questions xxxxCap?

Qu: If you want heated nozzles and powered child locks for safety reasons why do Volvo charge £1,000 on their cars including ones costing £40,000 + when other manufactures give it away or charge £35 (nozzles) like Skoda? Also, if you design a car to accept either petrol and petrol/Hybrid then of course there's compromises!

RoadsterMX5 7 February 2017

The hybrid bits will not be

The hybrid bits will not be in the boot. Think floor.