Another ex-Ford For You: the Volvo XC40 Electric. Competes with Jaguar, Audi, and Model X, with Model 3 Price Point!

We continue a short series of reports of “electric life after Ford:” ex-Ford car companies that were spit out by Ford to save Ford’s neck a few years back to do better without Ford now. One of the ways they show this is by revealing their electric cars close to production while Ford still struggles with their first BEV as a concept. As previously shown Aston Martin is having no problems with their reveal. In this case Volvo reveals its first full on electric SUV with no snags unlike Ford:

• Like Aston Martin, Volvo decided to use their present portfolio of gas cars to electrify.
• Unlike Ford which spent billions making a sole BEV platform.
• From 2019 on all Volvo models will eventually be fitted with an electric variant.
• SUV XC40 is the first all electric next in 2021 is full sized SUV XC90. SUV XC60 is the mid sized.
• All XC40s and flagship S90 sedan will be made in China as opposed to the midsize S60 sedan and XC90 made in SC USA.
• The XC40 chassis is designed for different powertrains.
• Price point XC40 electric: $35,000-$40,000, USD but CEO says closer to $50,000. The gas version is $52,332 USD.
• I realistically and conservatively price point it on the $55,000 range which is where Model 3 is.
• Regardless this will make it cheaper than Jaguar iPace and Tesla X at a Model 3 price that makes it attractive.
• Removable trash bin center console
• Smartphone passive inductive charging
• Back seats: huge amount of rear seat space (easily enough for 6ft adult to sit behind another), USB socket, rear seat heaters, and the handy small trays between the outer part of the seat and the doors
• The boot is a reasonable size
• 9 inch infotainment touch screen
• Safety Features:
• SRS Front and side curtain airbags
• ABS Antilock brakes
• ESC Stability Control
• Semi-Autonomous drive hardware
• Forward collision warning with passive emergency braking
• Surround camera views

With the problems Ford now faces that’s now at crisis proportions, thank goodness there’s life after Ford if you were one of their companies that moved on, and Volvo is another example. It’s amazing when a big company Iike Chinese Geely Motors grabs their helm with a bigger budget and bigger hopes to transform Volvo into a global powerhouse brand. They also recently did the same take over with British Lotus brand to wonder what will come of that venture.

In Volvo’s case they recently revealed their finally first all-electric Volvo as they intend to electrify the whole model range, and they cleverly and strategically chose the baby SUV XC40 to be the first one. By picking this segment at the $55,000 USD or so price point, Volvo puts itself at this timeframe with what’s available in the BEV SUV market, that’s Jaguar iPace and Tesla Model X, next year Audi eTron, in competition with these models at Model 3 prices, saving anywhere from $20,000-$30,000 USD on a full out utility BEV. We have no specs yet like range, horses, wattage, etc., but if Volvo comes through as we expect they should, this may become a very compelling buy. The only thing we do know according to UK Daily Express is that the V40 hatchback is expected to have a range over 250 miles, so it would be safe to say the XC40 will at least have something similar.

Now remember, Volvo is more about luxury, comfort, and safety, than performance. You may not go as fast around Nurburgring or handle a slalom like a Jaguar or Audi can, but, you know what? When you think about it, Volvo’s weren’t really made for those kinds of things anyway! If you have an insatiable need to drive your electric SUV at 100 mph up Pike’s Peak or on the interstate, then stick to the obvious plan of Audi or Jag or better yet wait two years for the Porsche Taycan sister.

But if you need a premium luxury brand that looks great, feels comfortable with room in the back for two six footers while two six footers are in the front, has utility for the room you need, handles the road decently, parks in tight places, has all the latest safety features the brand is known for, and has good value for the money, you can’t go wrong with this Volvo.

As Volvo design chief Thomas Ingenlath told the press on June 20 during the reveal of his company’s new S60 sedan, “It’s not a secret any more that the first full electric Volvo is on its way with the XC40 coming. It will arrive very soon after the Polestar 2. That is the first to come that’s not exotic. We’ll start with XC40 and then on it will come step after step into our model range. The next car will be the next generation XC90.”

That’s life after Ford! On sale for the 2019 model year.

Let us know what you think of the ex-Ford Volvo XC40 electric!