Skip to main content

Volvo downsizes its winning formula with 40 Series concepts

Volvo is reinventing itself from the top down. The Swedish carmaker recently introduced the redesigned XC90 crossover and the new S90 sedan and V90 wagon, all based on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform for large and midsize vehicles. Now Volvo is focusing on the other end of its lineup.

The company previously discussed a Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform for smaller cars, but it’s just now providing a hint at what vehicles based on that platform might look like. Say hello to the Concept 40.1 and Concept 40.2, harbingers of Volvo’s small-car future.

Collectively referred to as the “40 Series,” both concepts incorporate the handsome styling of Volvo’s larger, SPA-based cars. Both feature concave grilles and an interpretation of the “Thor’s hammer” headlights from the XC90, S90, and V90. The Concept 40.2 sedan has a more extreme version of the S90’s horizontal taillights, while the Concept 40.1 crossover boasts a nicely raked rear hatch.

Powertrains for the production 40 series cars will include at least one four-cylinder engine, and a T5 “Twin Engine” all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid setup. This includes a turbocharged three-cylinder engine and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, along with an electric motor. CMA will also form the basis for Volvo’s first production all-electric car, due in 2019.

Other cars based on the CMA platform will go into production in 2017, although it’s unclear if they will be sold in the U.S. Volvo has always had trouble selling compact models here; the last S40 sedan was a dud, and the company didn’t even bother importing the V40 hatchback that replaced it in other markets.

Read more: Volvo’s self-driving cars will make ethical decisions

With the large and small vehicles taken care of, expect Volvo to focus on the middle of its lineup next. Replacements for the current S60, V60, and XC60 will likely use the SPA platform when they arrive over the next few years. Virtually every Volvo model will eventually be based on either SPA or CMA.

Editors' Recommendations

BMW i4 vs. Tesla Model 3: Which EV sedan is better?
2022 BMW i4 M50

The BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3 are two of the hottest electric cars on the market today. Both vehicles offer a range of features designed to make driving easy and efficient, as well as attractive styling. But each has its advantages and disadvantages, and there is much that sets them apart in terms of performance, technology, convenience, and cost.

Deciding between the two? That's why we've put together this guide. Here are the differences and similarities between the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4, and why you might want one over the other.
Design

Read more
How much does an electric car battery cost?
electrify america evgo and chargepoint interoperability agreement for electric car charging station

Electric cars are often hailed as being cheaper to operate and repair than gas-powered cars. It makes sense — on the operation side, you only need to pay for electricity (not gasoline), and on the repair side, there’s no motor or transmission to deal with.

But electric cars have other costly repairs, and while in total they do generally cost less than repairs for gasoline cars, it’s worth knowing about the potential costs ahead of time. Perhaps the most obvious, and one of the most costly, has to do with an electric car’s battery. After all, while all cars have batteries, those in electric cars are far bigger and more advanced — and thus can cost quite a bit to replace.
How much does an electric car battery cost?

Read more
Tesla Cybertruck prototype spotted with minor changes
A Tesla Cybertruck prototype.

What appears to be a new Tesla Cybertruck prototype has been spotted testing on public roads.

As relayed by Electrek, Twitter user Greg posted a photo Thursday showing a Cybertruck with a different front-end design from what we've seen previously. The front bumper has a more distinct rectangular opening, possibly for cooling. This prototype also has triangular side mirrors, as opposed to the squared-off ones seen previously.

Read more