With the unveiling
of the electric XC40 on October 16, Volvo will, for the first time ever, tap
into the world of zero-emission cars. This has posed quite a few challenges for
the Swedish carmaker, safety being one of the biggest. Nevertheless, in true
Volvo fashion, they said that no compromises whatsoever have been made on that
front.
In the event of an
accident, occupants will be protected by the new safety structure developed by
Volvo. The battery’s placement in the floor, surrounded by a safety cage that
creates a built-in crumple zone around it, will ensure it remains intact.
Furthermore, the auto brand has also integrated the electric powertrain into
the body structure at the back, as it provides better distribution of collision
forces away from the passenger compartment.
The electric XC40
will also feature autonomous tech thanks to a new technology called Advanced
Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Developed by Zenuity, a joint venture company
owned by Volvo and Veoneer, ADAS is a scalable active safety system that
includes several radars, cameras and ultrasonic sensors.
Volvo will drop
more details and teaser images of the electric XC40 in the weeks to come, prior
to its big unveiling scheduled for October 16.