The 2017 Volvo XC40 prototype has been spotted while testing. Spy photos reveal the new crossover has a new design from the latest 40.1 and 40.2 design concept which is evident on the new headlights, tail lights and body design.
The mule is heavily camouflaged with thick covers which suggest that the new SUV will come out with its new unique design. This also hints that the new crossover will probably shun away from the usual look of its bigger siblings, the XC60 and XC90.
With regard to design, the 2017 Volvo XC40 will sport the brand's latest platform for small cars, the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA). The grille and headlights of the new XC40 are products of the latest40.1 and 40.2 concept cars which Volvo has introduced last May 2016. It is predicted that aside from the XC40, a new version of V40 and S40 saloon will most likely follow the same design concept, AutoExpress reported.
In another report, paultan.org details that the front end of the car shows the trapezoidal headlights which symbolize the brand's iconic "Thor's Hammer" LED daytime running lights. At the rear end, the tail lights appear to be similar to its larger siblings but coming out with a little tweak in a more angular design.
Furthermore, the report mentions that buyers have engine options as Volvo will offer the new XC40 with its current Drive-E 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol and diesel variants. In addition, the new crossover will also have the 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol power variant.
Looking into the future, Volvo is also targeting to integrate an electric motor with a twin engine plug-in hybrid technology which can produce 250 PS and 400 Nm. The automaker also plans to release a fully-electric variant of the new XC40 by 2020 which can perform a 350-km range.
The 2017 Volvo XC40 is expected to be launched in the upcoming 2017 Auto Shanghai in April. However, Volvo's R&D boss Peter Mertens reveals that the upcoming crossover is still planned to reach the market by 2018. The price tag predicted for this new XC40 is $32,300 (€30,000) which will most likely compete with BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
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