Volvo Adds 3-Cylinder Engine, Inscription Trim to the XC40 [News]

Volvo’s heading into the compact crossover market with its XC40 (Photo Gallery Above – Click Tabs to Advance)

Swedish manufacturer Volvo is throwing a whole lot of new into their compact XC40. There’s a new platform – dubbed their “Compact Modular Architecture”. They’re also kicking off new subscription-based service called “Care by Volvo”. For $600 a month, excluding taxes and registration fees, you can have an XC40 for 24 months and 30,000 miles with no down payment.

Now, there are a couple more new additions to the XC40 lineup. As with the XC60 and XC90, Volvo announced today that the top-spec “Inscription” trim level will also be available in the new XC40. For your extra money – pricing isn’t available at time of writing – Volvo will include some extra aesthetic pieces to set the Inscription apart from the rest of the range.

Among the added features, the Inscription trim adds unique paint colors, skidplates, and side window and grille mesh chrome. There’s also a crystal gear knob and Driftwood trim first introduced in the XC60. The Inscription slots above the T4 Momentum and T5 R-Design levels, as it does with its bigger siblings.

The 2019 XC40 sees new powerplants

More significantly than the Inscription trim, however, is the XC40’s new powerplant. Now, as it stands, we in the U.S. will get a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. That engine, mated to an eight-speed automatic, will put out 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque – enough to get it to 60 MPH in 6.2 seconds, according to Volvo.

However, Volvo also announced today that they’re slotting their first three-cylinder engine under the hood of the new XC40. The company did not specifically mention power output, but they did mention it uses the same modular setup as their four-cylinder Drive-E engines.

That means a hybrid powertrain is coming. More than that, a fully-electric model is coming down the pike, as well. At this moment, though, it’s unclear whether we’re getting the three-cylinder unit in the U.S. market. The 1.5-liter unit is launching with a six-speed automatic, although an eight-speed will be available later.

Check back to TFLcar.com soon for more XC40 news, views, and real-world reviews! Subscribe to The Fast Lane Car and TFLnow for more videos of your favorite new models.