Volvo Cars Corporation, credited as the world's safest car maker, has revealed intentions to introduce its new crossover V40 in the Indian premium car market somewhere around March 2013. The Swedish auto maker unveiled the brand new V40 vehicle at the 2012 Paris Motor Show and the car became an instant hit, while pulling the masses towards Volvo pavilion.
The upcoming Volvo V40 is a 'mild' crossover and is nothing like a full fledged Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), as rumours were doing rounds in the media prior to its showcasing. It seems like the Swedish auto maker has very methodically designed the V40 crossover so as make sure that it confidently takes on the Mercedes-Benz B-Class Sports Tourer, upon its launch in the Indian premium passenger car market. Among V40's other possible rivals in the country, the German sisters like Audi Q3 and BMW X1 will definitely be keeping their ears open and alert, regarding every development about the upcoming Swedish product.
Considering the exterior appearance of the Volvo V40 and Mercedes-Benz B-Class Sports Tourer appears of similar build and proportions. However, the V40 crossover scores better points on the futuristic and suave designing, while the B-Class Sports Tourer looks classier and its overall appearance conforms to those of existing premium compact vehicles.
The yet-to-be launched Volvo V40 will be available in two petrol and four diesel engine options. The Swedish auto maker has incorporated a 5-cylinder 2.0 litre turbo diesel power-mill with Start/Stop function that churns out a maximum power of 148 bhp and a mammoth torque of 350 Nm, under the hood of the diesel variant of V40. The impressive diesel powertrains will come with an option of six-speed Geartronic or six-speed manual gearbox. Further, the petrol variant of the upcoming Volvo crossover has been assimilated with a 4-cylinder direct injection turbo petrol engine with Start/Stop technology, besides being mated with a Six-speed manual transmission system. The drivetrain incorporated in the Volvo V40 package ensures sublime performance in terms of power, besides entailing the driver to have a thrilling driving experience in the 'World's Safest Car'. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class has arrived in the country as two variants B-180 and B-180 Sport, which hold a 4-cylinder In-line 1.6 litre petrol powertrain that delivers a decent power output of 121 bhp and peak torque of 200 Nm. The power plant has been coupled to a seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission system (DCT) featuring paddle shifts, which is usually found in high end sports cars such as SLS AMG. Thus, the Volvo V40 beats the Mercedes-Benz B-Class comprehensively, because of its bigger engine and superior driving dynamics.
Amidst mass hysteria and speculative buzz in the Indian automotive market, the German auto maker Mercedes-Benz launched its B-Class baby and the car lived up to its hype and received rave reviews from the automotive critics. Further, the company reported that the initial lot of the premium hatchback was booked completely before its official launch and Mercedes-Benz India will start deliveries instantly. The German auto maker had pinned great hopes with its vehicle and has estimated that the B-Class will contribute more than 30 per cent of its total sales in the Indian premium car market. A great deal of the overwhelming response can be attributed to the fact that Mercedes-Benz being among one of the most popular foreign auto brands in the country along with the extraordinary pricing of the B-Class, which has been tagged with a price bracket between Rs. 21.57 lacs and Rs. 24.87 lacs.
In accordance with the Volvo legacy, the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) has crowned the all-new 2013 V40 Cross Country crossover as the safest car in the world. After conducting battery of crash tests and through security evaluation, Euro NCAP found the Volvo V40 as one of the safest vehicles it has ever tested.
Dubbed among the safest Volvos built so far, the V40 Cross Country crossover is also the best-looking product coming from the stables of its Swedish maker. The upcoming car boasts of all the trimmings to set a benchmark in premium compact cars in the Indian market and could easily compete against the popular Mercedes-Benz B-Class. Interestingly, devoid of All Wheel Dive (AWD) option and not being a complete Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), the Volvo V40 could also snatch the market for BMW X1 and Audi Q3.
Evidently, Volvo India has already revealed desire to become a leader in luxury vehicle makers operating in the Indian auto market by 2020. The 2013 V40 Cross Country crossover may come in handy in pulling the masses towards Volvo dealerships and boosting the vehicle sales for its maker. The Swedish auto maker is expected to launch the futuristic V40 around a price tag of Rs. 30 lacs and till then, Indian car aficionados will be eagerly anticipating every news from the company’s stable.
