Volvo Car Malaysia has launched the highly anticipated all-new XC40 in Malaysia. This marks the brand’s first introduction of a compact SUV and a vehicle that defies the conventions of Volvo throughout the years.
For the XC40, there are dozens of possible exterior and interior colour combinations. This makes the new compact SUV the centre of an individuals choice. Volvo Cars allowed its designers the freedom to create a car that brings vibrancy, individuality and playfulness that the small premium SUV segment lacks. A car Volvo has never designed before.
During the development phase of the XC40, the brand’s customer research team spent much time investigating how city folk around the world use their car on a daily basis. This included how they store their belongings in their cars. Customers were also asked how they would like to see the interiors of their cars improved.
As an example, in order to provide better storage space in doors of the new XC40, Volvo designers chose to move the speakers from the doors to the dashboard. This led to the development of the world’s first, air-ventilated dashboard-mounted sub-woofer. This allowed the designers to then create enough storage in the door compartment for a laptop and tablet, or a few water bottles, and subsequently prevent items in the door bins to rattle.
Other focuses were to make usable space for phones, which includes wireless charging, USB ports, and convenient additions of a small fold-away hook in the glove compartment, storage space under the front seats, card slots in the dashboard, a large storage area in the console for a tissue box, and even a removable bin for waste.
Inspiration for materials, patterns and colour options come from street fashion, high-end designer goods and popular culture. Exterior colour combinations range from solid monochromatic theme, to dual compositions in vivid colours.
Interior colours include Lava Orange carpet, Oxide Red upholstery and new and distinctive trims and materials with designs inspired by urban architecture and cartography (maps). The Momentum trim is the fashion oriented in the line-up, with vivid exterior colour combinations, while R-Design and Inscription trims are more dynamic and premium.
At the trunk, Volvo has designed a smart floor system that can fold and separate luggage and also allows the use of full luggage space without removing the floor from the car. The rear seat electronic folding mechanism instantly provides a flat loading floor at the touch of a button.
Here are the key points for the Volvo XC40 in Malaysia
At launch, Volvo Car Malaysia offers a single variant for the XC40. This is in the T5 AWD R-Design that is locally assembled in Shah Alam. The XC40 is the brand’s first car in the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, which is meant for the brand’s smaller models in the upcoming line-up.
In terms of specifications, the local XC40 T5 AWD R-Design features a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that outputs 252 hp and 350 Nm of torque from 1,800 to 4,800 rpm. It is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and can achieve the standstill century sprint in just 6.4-seconds.
Despite the XC40’s direction on individuality and customisation, the trim offered locally is a sole R-Design without options – which is a more premium trim. Inside the seats are a Charcoal Nubuck Leather with black floor carpet, tunnel console and door panels, while the exterior options are in colours of Crystal White, Bursting Blue, Osmium Grey and Fusion Red paired to a black roof.
The gloss black trim on the exterior continues around the front grille, roof rails, skid plates and wing mirrors. Wheels sit on 19-inch Double Spoke Black Diamond Cut Alloys.
When Volvo mentions that the XC40 stands out different, it truly does among the brand’s 60 and 90 models. Enthusiasts will notice the difference in Air-conditioning Vent Design, Gear-Shifter size, Push Start-Stop button (instead of Turn Start-Stop) and Steering wheel.
Infotainment and technology includes an 8-speaker audio system, 2 USB ports with an additional USB Type-C port in the rear end tunnel console, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a QI Wireless Charger.
The Driver Assistance Systems list has Adaptive Cruise Control, Pilot Assist and Park Assist for Front and Rear. This joins the range of Intellisafe preventive systems including City Safety – Collision Avoidance, Mitigation with intersection support, pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection, Driver Alert Control, Lane Keeping Aid, and much more.
Run-off Road Protection, Dual Stage Driver and Front Passenger Airbags, Driver’s Side Knee Airbag, Side Impact Protection System with Dual Chamber SIPS Airbags, Inflatable Curtains, WHIPS for Front Seats, Post-Collision Auto Braking and Unlocking, Collapsible Steering Column and Isofix are the standard protective safety features.
It is expected that Volvo Car Malaysia would roll out the T5 Twin Engine Plug-in Hybrid version, together with a Momentum variant later in the future. The XC40 T5 AWD R-Design is priced at RM 255,888 without insurance and can be viewed at all Volvo showrooms nationwide from today.
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