Not too long ago, the Swedish luxury brand Volvo had its hands full. That’s because it launched a compact hatchback called the C30. While it certainly had a quirky look to it, there was one problem.
The damn thing stopped moving off showroom floors.
Volvo 40-SeriesWhile we’re sure this may have scared off other premium automakers, the Swedes are at it again. This time though it’s testing the waters with not one, but two, fresh compact concept vehicles. Called the 40-Series, we think a production version would square up against the likes of the Audi A3, BMW 2-Series, Lexus CT and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.
Although I know there’s going to be a flurry of comments from folks saying that Volvo isn’t a luxury brand, I think they are. Just look at its products. In addition, the XC90 is unstoppable right now. The thing is going gangbusters.
If Volvo can bottle up the formula seen in the XC90 then it may have a winner. The question we have for you though is do you see something special — like what you saw in the XC90 — in this application?
What say you, Spies?
Are the 40-Series concepts STUDLY or complete DUDS?Volvo 40-Series
Volvo's press release follows:Volvo provides the first look at its new range of smaller cars
Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, today unveiled two new concept cars that move the Swedish brand in an audacious new direction and mark the official launch of its global small car strategy.
Today’s newly-revealed 40 series concepts demonstrate for the first time how Volvo plans to expand into the large and lucrative global market for premium small cars with a range of vehicles that combine bold exterior and interior design with industry-leading connectivity, electrification and autonomous drive technologies.
The new concept cars will be the first built around Volvo’s new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), which has been specially created for smaller cars and which has liberated the company’s designers and engineers to explore bold and daring new directions.
“Each member of our product family has its own distinct character, just like the members of a real family. 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 flavour of small Volvos to come,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President, Design, at Volvo Car Group.
Volvo’s small car strategy is an essential element in its ongoing global operational and financial transformation. The Swedish company is currently implementing an ambitious revitalisation plan that will reposition the brand to compete with its global premium competitors within the next four years.
Volvo’s new global small car range will include a pure battery electric vehicle as well as Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain variants, in line with the company’s commitment to the electrification of its entire portfolio. Volvo plans to have sold a total of up to 1 million electrified cars by 2025 globally.
“By taking a modular approach to both vehicle architecture and powertrain development we have succeeded in leap-frogging many of the players in the premium segment,” said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research & Development. “Our new battery electric powertrain variant opens yet another exciting chapter in the unfolding Volvo story.”
On top of their daring exterior design and electrified powertrain options, the new cars will also offer a full range of innovative connectivity services, plus the world’s most advanced standard package of safety features and ground breaking Scandinavian interior design.
“The new 40 series cars have the potential to improve our market penetration in an important growing segment,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive. “An electric powertrain program including both a new compact Twin Engine plug-in hybrid as well as a pure electric car are central to the CMA architecture.” He added that the first new 40 series car is expected to go into production in 2017.
The announcement of Volvo’s new global small car strategy comes on the back of a strong start to the year in terms of sales and profitability.
The company announced revenues for the first three months of the year rose 24 per cent year-on-year to SEK41.7bn, generating an operating profit of SEK3.1bn and an operating profit margin of 7.5 per cent. Global sales for the first quarter of 2016 increased 11.9 per cent to 120, 591 cars. Volvo has a medium term ambition to sell 800,000 cars a year, up from 503,000 in 2015.
Note to Editors:
- The announcement that Volvo will also deliver a battery electric vehicle based on its CMA products follows a commitment to produce a pure electric car on its larger Scalable Product Architecture by 2019.
- Volvo’s new T5 Twin Engine, based on the company’s new 3-cylinder petrol engine and a new 7-speed dual clutch transmission coupled to an electric machine sees the Swedish company adjusting its existing Twin Engine All-Wheel Drive approach in favour of a more accessible front wheel-based system for its smaller cars.