Consumers have an insatiable demand for
crossovers, and Volvo is responding by preparing both entry-level and
range-topping models. According to Automotive News, US dealers were shown a
range-topping XC100 which is being created to battle the BMW X7 and Mercedes
GLS. The crossover will reportedly ride on an updated version of the SPA
platform, and be approximately 178 mm longer and 127 mm wider than the XC90. The extra room will create an accommodating interior which
is expected to be offered with both six and seven seat configurations.
The crossover will share a number of
components with the next-generation XC90 and is slated to go into production at
the company’s plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina in the second half of 2023.
An electric variant will reportedly follow one year later. Little else is known
about the XC100, but dealers who talked to Automotive News were clearly
impressed. One described the crossover as an “absolute home run,” while another
said it’s an “XC90, Range Rover, [and Rolls-Royce] Cullinan all in one.”
Also, Volvo is
reportedly developing a sporty crossover based on the XC40. Dubbed the C40, the
vehicle will be an EV aimed at millennials. Dealers told the publication it
will have a sloping roofline and this could suggest the model is a crossover
coupe. That remains unclear, but the C40 is also slated to have unique
taillights and a fully enclosed grille similar to the one used on the XC40
Recharge.
The C40 is expected to arrive in late 2021
and it will reportedly be a niche vehicle that sells in limited numbers –
approximately 8,000 units annually. Despite the small projected sales, dealers
suggested the C40 will be a “price-point leader” and an “affordability vehicle.”
