Volvo India to launch the 2013 XC40 crossover to rival the BMW X1, the Audi Q3 and the Mercedes Benz B-Class

Come 2013, Volvo India could launch the 2013 XC40 crossover, that will be unveiled at the 2012 Paris Motor Show in September. The Volvo XC40 is based on the V40 sports hatchback that Volvo has launched earlier this year. The XC40 crossover is essentially a jacked up, slightly more aggressively styled version of the V40 hatchback, in order to justify the XC40′s crossover moniker. Now, its pretty easy to deduce that it is the XC40 Volvo India plans to launch here, rather than the V40, as Sudeep Narayan, director, Volvo Auto India, has clearly stated that the new entry level product would make its world debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

2013 Volvo XC40 Crossover

The big unveiling that Volvo has lined up for Paris is the XC40 crossover and hence, this is what the Indian market will get in the next six months. The Volvo XC40 will sit as the entry level product in Volvo India’s portfolio, and is expected to be positioned below the cut price Volvo S60 sedan’s D3 variant. So, expect a price of about 22 lakhs for the Volvo XC40, which is extremely competitive indeed. This will also mean that the Volvo XC40 has a fat chance of undercutting the Teutonic competition it has to contend with, read the BMW X1, the Audi Q3 and the Mercedes Benz B-Class.

Both the X1 and the Q3 have come to become the big volume offering for BMW and Audi respectively while the B-Class is expected to play a similar role for Mercedes Benz, what with all these products being positioned as entry level vehicles. Similarly, the 2013 Volvo XC40 crossover could become the best selling car for the Chinese owned Swedish brand in the Indian car market. The XC40 is expected to be brought into the country through the completely knocked down(CKD) route. Both petrol and diesel engine options are expected to be offered in the Indian version of the Volvo XC40.

2013 Volvo XC40 Crossover

All engines are expected to feature turbocharging as standard. The turbo petrol engines are expected to be available in a wide range of power outputs ranging from 148 Bhp to 250 Bhp while the turbo diesel engines are expected to be available with outputs between 113 Bhp to 174 Bhp. Automatic transmission gearboxes are expected to be mated to these engines. The 2013 XC40 Crossover, like every other Volvo is anticipated to be loaded to the gills with safety equipment and creature comforts. All in all, the XC40 could be the next big thing for the brand in India, with the crossover having plenty of potential to make the Swedish car maker a well known luxury brand in the country.

Via BSMotoring