► Teaser look at new Volvo concept
► Believed to show V40 and XC40
► Full story announced this week
Volvo has let slip a series of teaser photographs of what is believed to be its new small car concepts – ahead of their official debut later this week.
The Swedes are hosting an event on Wednesday 18 May to show off their new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), shorthand for the new small-car platform underpinning future baby Volvos.
It’s the yin to the yang of the larger Volvos’ Scalable Product Architecture (SPA). Click here to read about the tech beneath the Volvo S90 and V90 range-toppers.
A lot of platform chat! What about the XC40 and V40 then?
This duo will premiere the new compact platform that’s been co-developed with Chinese parent company Geely. They’ll feature three- and four-cylinder engines and hybrid power is likely over time.
No prizes for guessing what the two 40-series cars will deliver: the V40 will replace VW today’s Golf rival and the XC model signifies a junior compact crossover, designed to stretch Volvo’s SUV credentials into the fast growing small soft-roader segment and expected on sale in 2017.
Judging by the honey-I-shrunk-the-XC90 headlamps, we can safely expect all of Volvo’s contemporary styling details – such as the Thor’s hammer headlamp detailing – to be transferred to the compact range. That’s quite a shark-nose angle of front grille, too.
Small Volvos: seen first on Snapchat
Unusually, Volvo issued these first teaser images on the mobile messaging service Snapchat, reflecting the Swedes’ attempt to connect with younger buyers for its smallest car range.
We’ll be reporting fully from the event in Sweden on Wednesday. And you won’t have to rely on Snapchat to read our full analysis on the new range of small Volvos and how they’re designed to turbocharge the brand’s future expansion plans…