Volvo Preparing Range-Topping XC100 To Battle BMW X7 And Mercedes GLS. 9329

 

Consumers have an insatiable demand for crossovers, and Volvo is responding by preparing both entry-level and range-topping models.

According to Automotive News, US dealers were shown a range-topping XC100 which is being created to battle the BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS.

The crossover will reportedly ride on an updated version of the SPA platform, and be approximately 7 inches (178 mm) longer and 5 inches (127 mm) wider than the XC90. The extra room will create an accommodating interior which is expected to be offered with both six and seven seat configurations.

 

The crossover will share a number of components with the next-generation XC90 and is slated to go into production at the company’s plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina in the second half of 2023. An electric variant will reportedly follow one year later.

Little else is known about the XC100, but dealers who talked to Automotive News were clearly impressed. One described the crossover as an “absolute home run,” while another said it’s an “XC90, Range Rover, [and Rolls-Royce] Cullinan all in one.”

At the other end of the spectrum, Volvo is reportedly developing a sporty crossover based on the XC40. Dubbed the C40, the vehicle will be an EV aimed at millennials.

Dealers told the publication it will have a sloping roofline and this could suggest the model is a crossover coupe. That remains unclear, but the C40 is also slated to have unique taillights and a fully enclosed grille similar to the one used on the XC40 Recharge.

The C40 is expected to arrive in late 2021 and it will reportedly be a niche vehicle that sells in limited numbers – approximately 8,000 units annually. Despite the small projected sales, dealers suggested the C40 will be a “price-point leader” and an “affordability vehicle.”

 

Source: Automotive news via Carscoop.