After completing the “90” Series lineup with the addition of the V90 in Geneva, Volvo is now focusing on the development of the next generation “40” series.
Besides the S40 Sedan and V40 estate, a crossover based on the same platform and likely called the XC40, will come to the United States. The compact vehicle was confirmed by the firm’s president and CEO, Hakan Samuelsson, during an interview with AutoNews, in Geneva.
“We will expand the 40 series with premium cars and crossovers. We are aiming at that segment”, said Samuelsson.
The upcoming 40 series of vehicles will be offered in full, in the United States: “We will have the next-generation 40 cars absolutely in the U.S. I think it was a mistake not having the V40, not being prepared for the U.S. It was a mistake, but it was in that time when the company was in extreme trouble”, added Peter Mertens, Senior VP for Research & Development.
Besides the upcoming S40/V40/XC40 vehicles, Mertens talked about a potential electrification in the firm’s lineup for the States, giving the example that roughly 20 percent of all XC90 SUVs, sold in the U.S. are plug-in hybrids, twice as much as the ones delivered in Europe. The Volvo R&D’s Senior Vice President predicts a “massive increase in take rates for plug-in hybrids, and I think it’s about to take off now.”
Note: 2015 Volvo V40 Cross Country pictured
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