Volvo States That the New XC40 Will Be Safest in its Class

Safety tech will filter down from its larger siblings, the XC60 and XC90.

The carmaker will reveal its XC40 SUV next month and the carmaker has stated that it is fitted with safety technology from the larger XC90 and XC60.

The car can detect potential accidents with other cars, cyclists and pedestrians and automatically slow the SUV’s speed down. Earlier versions of the system, when tested, claim to have reduced accidents by 28 percent.

The car also comes fitted with Volvo on Call, a system that automatically alerts the authorities in the event of an accident, Pilot Assist, which can help hold a set distance between cars and keep the SUV in its lane, City Safety, that steps in to create a gap if a car cuts across you, and Run-off Road Protection and Mitigation, that gets all safety equipment ready when it thinks the chances of an accident are detected.

"Modern city life presents complex challenges for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. With the XC40, we aim to reduce the so-called cognitive load on the driver. While our safety and driver-assistance systems actively identify and mitigate potential conflicts, you as a driver can relax more and therefore enjoy city driving," said Malin Ekholm, Vice President Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

“Many accidents are caused by ‘mismatch moments’, when you glance over your shoulder, or look at the instruments just as someone else walks out in the road, and this is where we can make a difference,” said Tent Victor, Volvo’s Senior Technical Leader for Crash Avoidance. “But technology can be just as powerful whatever the reason it is called into play - whether someone is on their phone, or their concentration has wondered, if we can get their attention back on the road quickly then we can make a big difference.”

The Swedish manufacturer has developed its safety systems by studying data from around the world, including China, USA, Germany and the UK, and Sweden.