Volvo XC40 Refresh Brings Redesigned Exterior, Google Gemini Integration
Volvo has revamped its best-selling small SUV, the XC40, in an effort to maintain its competitive edge. The update touches nearly every part of the vehicle, from the redesigned Thor's Hammer Matrix LED headlights to the new AI assistant riding in its dashboard.
The most visible change is up front, where a refined take on the light signature has been paired with an upgraded grille, new front bumper, hood and front wings. The rear has also received attention, with new LED taillights, an upgraded tailgate, and redesigned bumper giving the car a more contemporary presence.
The centerpiece of the update is a larger 11.2-inch touchscreen running Volvo's latest software experience, built to require fewer taps to reach frequently used functions. The bigger addition, though, is under the hood of the software itself: the XC40 will be among the Volvo models equipped with Google Gemini, the AI assistant built for natural conversation.
The cabin has also received a materials refresh, with Arianne Cardamom leather upholstery paired with Brown Ash wood trim available for the first time. The revised wireless phone charger and reworked storage are meant to serve the everyday rhythms of a small SUV that Volvo positions as equally suited to school runs and weekend trips.
The safety pitch for the refreshed XC40 rests on a new sensor and software platform that gives the car a considerably wider view of what's happening around it. The changes add front and corner radars, a new front camera, rear corner radars, twelve additional ultrasonic sensors, and new parking cameras.