MOTORING NEWS - The new XC40, Volvo's first premium compact SUV, is now available in South Africa. With the title of 2018 European Car of the Year under its belt, the SUV is set to create yet another stir for the Volvo brand locally following in the steps of the highly successful and modern XC90, S90 and V90 Cross Country.
The Swedish-based manufacturer has thrown away the rule book to create a new motoring experience where individual style meets a functional and elegant driving environment.
The bespoke interior inherits all of Volvo's latest design elements, including the 9" Sensus Connect touch screen and digital instrument cluster. New design elements like the optional contrasting black or white roof, white mirror caps and wheels, Oxide Red leather and "Lava" carpets, which are made from 100% recycled materials, will allow XC40 customers to express their own individual style.
Inside, the XC40 has smart features like a removable rubbish bin, a cubby hole hook, a dedicated smartphone storage area with wireless charging and a multi-adaptable boot floor for organised and harmonious efficiency.
The Volvo XC40 is available locally with a choice of two trim levels - the sporty R-Design and elegant Momentum. There are also two engines (D4 diesel or T5 petrol) and all-wheel drive on all models. Top-of-the-range Inscription derivatives arrive later in 2018, as well as the T3 front-wheel drive version.
Says Greg Maruszewski, MD Volvo Car South Africa, "This car is perfectly suited to the South African market. It's luxurious, capable and compact, plus pricing is extremely competitive."
KEY FEATURES
City safety with front collision warning and full automatic brake is standard in the new XC40. This system senses potential collisions, even when it is dark, and can activate the brakes automatically. It provides three levels of intervention; warning, brake support and full autonomous braking.
The ground-breaking pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection technology detects and automatically brakes the vehicle in the event of a pedestrian, cyclist or large animal stepping, swerving or jumping in front of the car. The advanced sensor system scans the area ahead and will prompt you to act with a flashing warning light, along with an audible alarm. If a collision remains imminent, the car immediately brakes with full braking force.
New Volvo XC40 Inscription - interior detail.
Rearward facing radar detects if a rear impact is imminent and safety belts are tightened in advance to protect the occupants. Lights also start flashing to warn the driver behind and brakes are activated to help reduce the impact movement.
Lane keeping aid is a standard-fitted system that helps the driver keep the car in its lane by gently steering the car back if it is about to cross a lane marking and if the car senses that the driver is not driving actively, or not using the indicators. If the supplied steering intervention is insufficient, the driver is alerted by vibrations in the steering wheel. The system is active between 65 and 200km.
REAL-WORLD DISPLAY
The new XC40 can also display real-world road sign information within the instrument display. This function also has the ability to warn the driver should the vehicle exceed the current road speed limit.
Volvo's next generation of semi-autonomous technology is optionally available. Adaptive cruise control maintains the desired set vehicle speed but utilises radar to monitor the vehicle in front and automatically slows down or speeds up. Pilot assist also takes care of the steering up to 130km and when lane markings are clearly visible, by monitoring the area in front of the vehicle. It makes the necessary steering, accelerator and brake inputs to keep to the desired speed, distance and within the lane markings.
New Volvo XC40 - exterior detail.
The blind spot information system uses sensors to alert the driver to vehicles within the mirror blind spots on either side of the vehicle. Cross traffic alert uses radar to provide information to the driver about vehicles approaching from the side - for example when reversing out of a parking space. Cross traffic alert also includes braking support, which allows the car to brake if an impact from either side is imminent.
Park assist pilot allows the car to take over steering control in difficult parallel or perpendicular parking spots. The driver is prompted to control the throttle, braking and gear inputs. The "park out" function also assists in exiting tight spots.
During low speed manoeuvres, the visual park assist 360º cameras provide the driver with additional information about the car's surroundings.
ACCIDENT PREVENTION
Run off-road accidents are among the largest cause of single vehicle accidents. To combat this, Volvo Cars has developed two support systems aimed at helping to prevent this type of road accident and also protecting the car's occupants in the case of an unavoidable road departure.
This function is designed to help prevent unintended road departures at vehicle speeds between 65 and 140km. Using input from the car's advanced sensor system, the technology is able to detect this risk.
Distraction, lack of concentration and falling asleep are major reasons for accidents. In 2007 Volvo Cars introduced a world-first technology to combat this danger. Driver alert control keeps track of the car's path in relation to lane markings on either side through the camera in the windscreen. If the system detects that the car is being driven in an erratic manner, the driver gets an alert in the form of an audible signal as well as a text message and a coffee cup symbol on the display, indicating it's time to take a break.
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