Volvo

After spending a week with the new 2019 XC40, we came away impressed with Volvo’s attention to detail on this compact luxury crossover. The XC40 builds on the excellence of the larger XC60 and XC90 models, without downsizing their ergonomics for the compact market.

​​Volvo’s self-driving truck program has already opened up some interesting possibilities. And now the Swedish automaker is set to see how its robo-trucks fare in real-world scenarios, after inking its first commercial deal with a Norwegian resource company to cart limestone away from its mine. ​

​Those closely following the progress of Volvo’s electric vehicle spinoff Polestar may know it is the first time the Swedish automaker has explored carbon fiber construction. And part of that exploration is smashing cars to bits in crash tests.

After revealing its luxury hybrid grand tourer in October last year, Polestar is now starting to put the first pieces in place. The company announced today that it has kicked off production of the very first Polestar 1 verification prototypes, with customer models expected sometime in 2019.

Ever since Volvo revealed the V60 mid-size estate earlier this year, we've been eagerly awaiting the Cross Country version. Volvo made that muddy leap today, injecting a little more adventure into the 60 Series with the lifted, all-wheel-drive wagon.

Volvo has just announced a new electric vehicle concept built to tow loads around ports and factories all on its lonesome, so much so they it hasn't even bothered with a cabin. ​

Volvo introduced the 360c concept on Wednesday, opening up a new exploration of the autonomous driving future. More than just a concept, Volvo is exploring a new travel paradigm in which autonomous vehicles replace short-distance flights for a quicker, more relaxing means of jumping from A to B.

Running heavy machinery in a quarry is a dirty business, involving massive diesel trucks belching out exhaust fumes. But it doesn't have to be. Volvo CE has teamed up with Skanska to test its Electric Site concept, where electric and autonomous machinery will operate in a real quarry environment.

Cars that park themselves can not only make parking mishaps a thing of the past, but the technology could also make maximum use of lot space. Nissan has even created self-parking slippers. Now Volvo has demonstrated a yacht that can dock itself.

​Volvo has followed last month’s launch of its first all-electric truck with an even meatier zero-emission vehicle. Engineered to cart huge loads around urban centers, the Volvo FE Electric boasts almost double the carrying capacity of its sibling and will be put to work in Germany next year. ​​

Following an initial launch in October last year and a full reveal at the Geneva Motor Show last month, Volvo has now given its Polestar 1 grand tourer a price tag during this week's Auto China 2018 in Beijing.

The Beijing Motor Show starts this week, and Volvo is experimenting with another three-seater concept for Chinese business moguls. Based on the S90 Excellence, Volvo's new Ambience Concept closes out the chaos of the city and tantalizes the senses with visuals, smells and sounds.