Volvo to Add Sporty Crossover in Place of V40 Wagon

Volvo Car Corp. plans to launch a sporty compact crossover vehicle early next decade as a successor to the current V40 wagon, Autocar reports.

The new model will have a higher ride height than the V40 but will sit lower than the XC40 SUV. Development of the vehicle is underway and should be completed within the next two years, Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo’s European boss, tells the British enthusiast magazine.

Production of the current V40 (pictured) will be discontinued by year-end. Dating back to Volvo’s previous partnership with Ford Motor Co., the V40 rides on Ford’s Global C platform.

The new model will be underpinned by Volvo’s CMA flexible architecture. The platform can support hybrid and full electric variants, which isn’t possible with the Ford architecture.

The redesigned model likely will feature a coupe-like roofline, according to Autocar. To speed development, some body panels will be shared with other Volvo vehicles.

Sales of the V40 plunged 23% last year to fewer than 78,000 units. Kerssemakers says some potential V40 customers opted for an XC40, which sold 150,000 units during its first full year on the market.