Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Volvo XC40 delayed because it's too big for its own good?

As fuel prices rise and greenhouse gases poke holes in the ozone, big, gas-guzzling sports utility vehicles are becoming less popular as smaller, cleaner vehicles, such as crossovers, gain market share. Volvo is late to the small crossover party, though it wants to build the XC40 crossover to compete with the Land Rover Evoque. The only problem with that, Autocar reports, is that a suitable (read: small enough) platform for it is up to five years away, despite a hopeful photos of it in testing guise.

Volvo is currently developing a new platform, called SPA (Scaleable Platform Architecture), to underpin its next-generation of vehicles, such as the 2014 XC60 pictured above and the S60 sedan, which is likely the smallest vehicle that would be able to use the new platform. Furthermore, there doesn't seem to be a quick fix for the gaping hole in Volvo's lineup, and Geely, the Chinese budget car manufacturer that owns Volvo, is reportedly preparing to launch a mid-market brand that may or may not be sold outside of China.

Can't Swedish car manufacturers catch a break?

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/07/11/v...-its-own-good/

mrraider

Why not just use a Ford platform, engine and transmission? Oh wait, that's the Evoque.

mmarshall

I think most of the Evoque's planning and development was done after Ford sold off Land Rover. Tata Motors of India (who also owns Jaguar) then took over.

TangoRed

This is true, but the Evoque is derived from the LR2, which itself is derived off ford's old EUCD platform. Also, Ford did still have a little bit of influence- which is why LR looked to Ford to supply its motor, which is a slightly warmed over Ecoboost I4.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

An XC40 in the States seems like a good idea considering how much Americans like SUVs big and small. This proposed XC40 would fill the spot below the XC60 similar to how the upcoming Lexus NX is slated below the RX