New Volvo XC40 heading for Paris debut?

New Volvo XC40

The Volvo XC40 is the next stage in Volvo’s XC adventure and it looks like it will debut – at least as a concept – at the Paris Motor Show.

We’ve know for some time that Volvo are planning to extend their range of SUV come crossover vehicles, and a little brother for the XC60, XC70 and XC90 is the direction.

We did think, until it became clear that Volvo’s new baby would be the V40 and not the V30, that the next instalment for the XC would be the XC30. But now the new V40 us here it seems clear Volvo will instead deliver an XC40.

We’ve heard from three different sources in the last week that the Volvo XC40 is close to a debut, and the consensus seems to be a debut at the Paris Motor Show in September with a launch in 2013.

That all fits in with the statement by Lex Kerssemakers – Volvo’s Overseas Corporate Strategy President – two years ago when he said:

There will be some further expansion of the XC range in the near future…Naturally you would go down at this moment because we’re rather well filled with XC60, XC70 and XC90.

In terms of what to expect, a simple cross between the XC60 and the new V40 is what we’ll get, with the same choice of 4-pot engines as the new V40 and a choice of FWD and 4WD versions.

And with a new ‘Twilight’ film scheduled for release in November, and film director Bill Condon currently shooting ‘extra’ footage before a November release, could we see the Volvo XC40 turning up in ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 2’?

Don’t bet against it.