Automotive

Volvo previews new small car family with 40.1 and 40.2 concepts

Volvo previews new small car family with 40.1 and 40.2 concepts
If Volvo maintains most of the 40.2's styling in production, it should prove a very attractive alternative to the competition
If Volvo maintains most of the 40.2's styling in production, it should prove a very attractive alternative to the competition
View 34 Images
A look at the insides of Volvo's plug-in hybrid lithium battery
1/34
A look at the insides of Volvo's plug-in hybrid lithium battery
Volvo will use a three-cylinder gas engine in its 40-series plug-in hybrid system
2/34
Volvo will use a three-cylinder gas engine in its 40-series plug-in hybrid system
Drive-E three-cylinder engine
3/34
Drive-E three-cylinder engine
The 40 series will have a strong focus on technology and safety
4/34
The 40 series will have a strong focus on technology and safety
Volvo T5 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid with three-cylinder engine and 7DCT gearbox
5/34
Volvo T5 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid with three-cylinder engine and 7DCT gearbox
Volvo previews its small car future
6/34
Volvo previews its small car future
Volvo's two modular architectures and plug-in layouts
7/34
Volvo's two modular architectures and plug-in layouts
Volvo Drive-E three-cylinder interior
8/34
Volvo Drive-E three-cylinder interior
Modular breakdown of the Drive-E three-cylinder engine
9/34
Modular breakdown of the Drive-E three-cylinder engine
Volvo Drive-E three-cylinder "optimized structure"
10/34
Volvo Drive-E three-cylinder "optimized structure"
T5 Twin Engine hybrid and regenerative braking setup
11/34
T5 Twin Engine hybrid and regenerative braking setup
Compact Modular Architecture battery-powered electric vehicle structure
12/34
Compact Modular Architecture battery-powered electric vehicle structure
CMA with three-cylinder powertrain
13/34
CMA with three-cylinder powertrain
CMA with four-cylinder engine
14/34
CMA with four-cylinder engine
CMA with T5 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain
15/34
CMA with T5 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain
The front-wheel-driven T5 Twin Engine layout will be available on new 40- and 60-series models
16/34
The front-wheel-driven T5 Twin Engine layout will be available on new 40- and 60-series models
The pure-electric 40-series car will help Volvo work toward its one million EV goal
17/34
The pure-electric 40-series car will help Volvo work toward its one million EV goal
Volvo focuses on general 40-series styling, CMA and powertrain technologies without getting into all the specs of the 40.1 or 40.2
18/34
Volvo focuses on general 40-series styling, CMA and powertrain technologies without getting into all the specs of the 40.1 or 40.2
Hockey stick taillamps
19/34
Hockey stick taillamps
Looks like one of the 40-series concept features is side-view cameras
20/34
Looks like one of the 40-series concept features is side-view cameras
Volvo reveals the first 40-series concepts
21/34
Volvo reveals the first 40-series concepts
Those that know the new 90 series will recognize the Thor's hammer headlights
22/34
Those that know the new 90 series will recognize the Thor's hammer headlights
The 40.1's distinctive taillights are similar to the S90's but are narrower with more 3D depth
23/34
The 40.1's distinctive taillights are similar to the S90's but are narrower with more 3D depth
Volvo's lighting designs really make its new cars pop
24/34
Volvo's lighting designs really make its new cars pop
Volvo reveals the first 40-series concepts
25/34
Volvo reveals the first 40-series concepts
Volvo 40.2 small sedan concept
26/34
Volvo 40.2 small sedan concept
Those taillights and concave trunk lid make for a memorable departure
27/34
Those taillights and concave trunk lid make for a memorable departure
If Volvo maintains most of the 40.2's styling in production, it should prove a very attractive alternative to the competition
28/34
If Volvo maintains most of the 40.2's styling in production, it should prove a very attractive alternative to the competition
That grille just doesn't complement the rest of the styling, in our opinion
29/34
That grille just doesn't complement the rest of the styling, in our opinion
Volvo 40.2 concept car
30/34
Volvo 40.2 concept car
Volvo designed the 40.1 concept car with urban millennials in mind
31/34
Volvo designed the 40.1 concept car with urban millennials in mind
The 40.1 shares some elements with the XC90 SUV, but it has a more sculpted, athletic look
32/34
The 40.1 shares some elements with the XC90 SUV, but it has a more sculpted, athletic look
Volvo previews its small car future with the 40.1 concept
33/34
Volvo previews its small car future with the 40.1 concept
The 40.1 concept's muscular rear fenders, black-out A pillars and roof, and roof spoiler give it a sporty look
34/34
The 40.1 concept's muscular rear fenders, black-out A pillars and roof, and roof spoiler give it a sporty look
View gallery - 34 images

We didn't always get excited when Volvo announced a new concept car, but things have changed in recent times. Its concepts have been stylish and forward-looking without nearing the realm of fantastical and over-styled. And some have led to compelling products like the sleek, new V90 wagon (originally previewed by the Concept Estate). Volvo's all-new 40.1 crossover and 40.2 small sedan concepts prove that things will be as stylish on the small end of Volvo's lineup as they are at the top.

Unveiled for the first time on Wednesday, the new crossover and sedan concepts are the first vehicles based on Volvo's Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), which follows the Scalable Product Architecture that sits under new models like the V90 and S90 sedan.

The new cars will be part of Volvo's greater expansion plan and strategy to compete with larger premium segment competitors on a global scale. The Swedish automaker reached a half-million sales for the first time last year and saw sales increase by just under 12 percent in the first quarter of 2016. It plans to grow production to 800,000 cars annually in the coming years.

Both the 40.1 and 40.2 look polished and near production-ready, wearing some design cues similar to those that define Volvo's latest 90-series offerings – Hammer of Thor headlamps and bold, chiseled character lines stand out.

Volvo 40.2 small sedan concept
Volvo 40.2 small sedan concept

The 40.2 sedan features a muscular, high-riding stance and sporty look with a wraparound greenhouse that plays quite nicely with the sharp-dropping rear cabin. It also features some sculpted indents at the front and sides. Outside of the toothy grille, which doesn't look quite as clean as the vertical slats of the 90 series, we'd say it's a compelling design that stands up quite well to competition in and outside Germany.

The 40.1 loses a bit of the sporty aggression of the 40.2, which is only natural for a crossover. It is sharper and more athletic than the XC90 thanks to muscular haunches, sculpted sides and a hood design that sweeps backward and slightly outward from the headlights. The spoiler at the back of the black-out roof completes a design that beckons, "Have some fun with that asphalt, gravel or dirt (but mostly asphalt)."

Volvo previews its small car future with the 40.1 concept
Volvo previews its small car future with the 40.1 concept

"Each member of our product family has its own distinct character, just like the members of a real family," Thomas Ingenlath, senior VP of design, frames it. "CMA has helped us to capture something special, something youthful in our new concept cars. They have an energy, a disruptive and engaging urban character that makes them stand out amongst the crowd. This is the flavor of small Volvos to come."

As part of Volvo's 1 million plug-in vehicle goal, the new 40 series will include both a battery-powered electric vehicle and T5 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid. Sized down from the AWD T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid option on the 90 series, the front-wheel-drive T5 will rely on a Drive-E three-cylinder petrol engine combined with an electric motor and new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Volvo also promises to equip 40-series models with a "full range of innovative connectivity services, the world's most advanced standard package of safety features and groundbreaking Scandinavian interior design."

The debut of the new 40 series will follow the new 60 series, with the first 40-series car set to enter production in 2017.

Source: Volvo

View gallery - 34 images
1 comment
1 comment
mediabeing
Where are all the Volvo cars that were supposed to incorporate the designs of the women engineers?? What a pity those great ideas STILL haven't hit the showroom.