Volvo Cars is reportedly working on a replacement for the ageing V40 hatchback, and it’s set to take on the premium compact space by offering a plug-in hybrid and pure electric versions of the V40, Auto Express reports. Like the newly-launched XC40, the V40 hatch will ride on Volvo’s new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), which is essentially a smaller version of the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) that underpins the S90, V90 and XC90 models.
Currently, all 90-series Volvos get their respective range-topper in plug-in hybrid T8 guise, which leads us to the inevitable electrification of compact Volvo models. “We’ve designed CMA from the beginning to have plug-in capability,” Volvo’s head of research and development, Henrik Green, told the publication.
“In purely physical terms, we have to fit the battery in the floor, but CMA gives us pretty good bandwidth. Everything from the full SUV height down to fairly low cars is possible,” added Green.
“CMA is a good platform to build the SUV (the XC40), but we can also build low, dynamic cars with it,” he said. “XC40 aims for an urban environment, giving you comfort and also the commanding view in the traffic and at junctions. But we don’t have to follow this approach with other 40-series models that are coming.”
The next V40 will likely be roomier on the inside, especially in the legroom department thanks to a longer wheelbase. According to the report, that could potentially make it more spacious than the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and BMW 1 Series.
As for powertrains, the 40-series line-up will include the D3 and D4 (190 hp, 400 Nm) four-cylinder turbodiesels, as well as the three-cylinder T3 and four-cylinder T4 and T5 (247 hp, 350 Nm) petrols. The top plug-in hybrid version won’t get the T8 badge though, instead it’ll be equipped with the new EU6-compliant T5 Twin Engine, which combines the automaker’s new 180 hp 1.5 litre three-cylinder Drive-E engine and a 55 kW electric motor. A newly-developed seven-speed dual-clutch automatic will be paired with the engine.
The total system output of this compact powertrain will equate to 250 PS and nearly 400 Nm of torque, which would theoretically enable a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 6.5 seconds. Volvo also revealed plans to use the new powertrain in its future 60-series cars (which rivals the BMW 330e and Mercedes-Benz C 350 e) for the purposes of making hybrid models in the compact executive segment even more affordable.
Details of the pure electric powertrain still elude us (all will be revealed once the XC40 EV rolls out in the near future), but Green told the same publication that there will be “at least two different battery sizes on offer. The base variant will be more cost-efficient, but with a slightly limited range, and then there will be a bigger option with a higher price, but more range and more power.”
However, the report added that the first fully-electric car to ride on CMA will not bear the Iron Mark logo, instead it’ll be the Polestar 2 high-performance saloon (a Tesla Model 3 rival) that’s slated to be introduced in 2019. Polestar recently introduced the high-performance 1, featuring the advanced Electric Performance Hybrid drivetrain capable of generating 600 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque.
As for the V40’s design, well, considering that the XC40 is out, that wouldn’t require much imagination now, would it? Expect the hatch to come with features such as a foldable boot floor, extra-large door bins (with bass speakers moved to behind the dashboard), a teh-tarik hook on the glovebox, as well as drawers under the seats. The V40 may also get the company’s nine-inch Sensus (touchscreen) infotainment system and a fully digital instrument cluster as standard.
Lastly, Green went on to say that Volvo may consider making even smaller models than the 40-series in the future. “You can probably do a smaller car with the CMA platform, but we’re not actively looking at that right now. So one day we may have an SUV that’s even smaller than XC40, but at the moment this is the exciting size for us.”
GALLERY: Volvo 40.2 Concept
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Geely Volvo Trucks > all
The back design is just too ugly. Same like s90, looks so ah pek
Pls bring in CKD XC40 under EEV CKD below 180k… pls transform Volvo mesia to be the next successful luxury car brand like MERZ done. Now onwards no1 buy Recon Merz, all grey import Merz greedy price finally zero sales, will parking until 20yrs to scrap.
The overall AH PEK looks should be given to any new AUDI AND MERCEDES .
These are the only two cars that look the most AH PEK and worst rear design compare to any new VOLVO.
I like the rear design of the VOLVO and is VERY OUTSTANDING AND ELEGANCE.
Current non-EEV V40 180K. new Volvo V40 T8 hybrid 130k ?
That current V40 rm180k is EEV.
love to have that price, i think need need to be more reasonable, even with EEV, and new tech hybrid, RM150k.
If really sold at Rm150k, all the Japanese SUV brands can say bye bye!
Volvo > all
“The total system output of this compact powertrain will equate to 250 PS and nearly 400 Nm of torque, which would theoretically enable a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 6.5 seconds”
Current V40 T5 Drive E managed to clock 6.1 / 6.2sec for 0-100lkm/h..no improvement.
i’ll let tokmoh correct me if im wrong.
Current V40 is a hatchback, output from a 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder.
This V40 is an SUV, output from 1.5L turbo 3-cylinder and electric motor.
It’s kinda hard to compare them now that it has moved to SUV segment. At the very least, we know the new V40 will have lower CO2 thanks to T5 twin engine hybrid powertrain.
What I can Understand is V40 is A hatch back.. but it use the same platform as the XC40 Suv (Compact Modular Architecture CMA). It’s not that V40 is an SUV.
Shet, i terkeliru cuz look at that XC40 SUV concept pic, forgot this post is about V40 HATCH, it’s in the title lel.
Oh well, i stand corrected about their powertrain changes. Dulu, 2.0L tebu, soon 1.5L tebu hybrid.
Anyway, there is still T5 2.0L turbo Drive-E planned. That might be faster than the T5 twin engine hybrid.
john said U can jack up the V40 HB to look like a SUV. The same way he jack up the Jazz to look like a HRV. Is john clever or what !!?
Ya la butul juga.
Jack up from hb n sedan are called crossover, not suv
volvo is a safe car, why u wanna clock so fast, to make it safer, they will limit you can drive as fast as a turtle, that’s ultimate safety.
Big improvement will be the much lower fuel consumption. Likely be under 4.5litre/100km. All car markers are squeezed to cut tail pipe emission in terms of lower Nox and CO2. In France they want even to ban cars with ICE by 2040. Its in the news for past 1 year. Where had you been all this while?!.
please sell the turbodiesel version here