Volvo has released details of a new platform it says will underpin future small-vehicle offerings, one of which will likely be a compact crossover to debut in 2017.
The XC40 (its likely name) isn’t confirmed, but industry mag Automotive News’ intel suggests it’ll be the brand’s next new model, Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson having said that such a vehicle “is a priority” for the company.
Speculation aside, Volvo provided this nifty video showing the scalability of the new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), and suggests that not only will it be the basis of a crossover, but also future compact car models.
The CMA will give Volvo two platforms to underpin its entire lineup, the other being the larger Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) that the XC90 crossover uses, and which the future S90 sedan and next-gen S-, V- and XC60 models will ride on. The CMA can use all the same drivetrains and electronics as its larger cousin, which Volvo says will allow it to offer big-car premium features in its small cars, too. Like the SPA, the CMA was conceived with electrification in mind, so we should expect at least one hybrid model based on it; we think the XC40 is a likely candidate there.
Volvo figures it will sell half a million cars worldwide this year, but aims to reach 800,000 global sales by 2020, a target it feels is attainable thanks to the ownership and financial backing of China’s Geely.
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