Swedish carmaker Volvo is gearing up to launch its all-new SUV, the XC40, in India in July 2018. At launch, Volvo's smallest SUV is expected to be offered only in the mid-spec R-Design trim, Autocar India has learned.

Initially, the XC40 will be offered with only a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel (D4) engine that'll make 190hp. The unit will be mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Notably, Volvo is set to offer all-wheel drive as standard, boosting the vehicle's SUV credentials. Depending on the response to the SUV, the carmaker could offer the option of a petrol engine and add another variant to the line-up at a later stage.

Set to go up against the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Mercedes-Benz GLA, the XC40 R-Design will be loaded with standard features such as wireless mobile phone charging, a 750W 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, 19-inch wheels, powered tailgate, and heated front and rear seats. The sporty R-Design trim also features an all-black interior and Volvo's 9.0-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The SUV will be available with the option of three dual-tone colours – red (with a black top), blue and black (with a white top). 

Volvo is known to equip its vehicles with best-in-class safety features, so expect the XC40 to be loaded with safety equipment such adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, run-off-road mitigation and blind spot information.

The XC40 is the first car to be built on Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) and is meant to target a more youthful customer base, compared to the larger XC60 and XC90. As a result, the model is expected to attract new customers to the brand in India. 

The XC40 will not be assembled at Volvo's Bengaluru facility – which assembles the XC90 and is expected to soon assemble the S90 sedan – since it is set up for the SPA platform and not for CMA-based models. However, expect the small SUV to still be priced attractively, as is now a norm for Volvo.

Also see:

2017 Volvo XC40 video review

2017 Volvo XC40 review, test drive