From EV Review Ireland.
Nevo travelled over to London to join Volvo for the launch of the new refreshed EX40. In this full review, Nevo’s Managing Director, Simon Andreucetti speaks with Camile Audra from Volvo’s design team on exactly what’s changed and why.
The EX40 is part of Volvo’s refreshed 40 series, and Volvo calls it the best version of the range yet. Simon walks through the redesigned exterior and interior, the new safety tech, and the range and powertrain options, then sit down with the team who actually made these changes to get the real story behind them.
On the outside, the headline update is the reworked Thor’s Hammer Matrix LED headlights, now with 15-segment technology, alongside a new grille, redesigned front bumper, bonnet and front wings, plus new LED rear lights. Inside, you get a larger, crisper 11.2-inch display running Volvo’s latest interface, new premium upholstery with Black Ash or aluminium trim options, and refined cabin illumination throughout. On the electric side, the EX40 offers up to 575km on a single charge, with propulsion options across P5, P5 Long Range, P8 AWD and P8 Performance AWD.
Safety gets a serious upgrade too, with a new sensor and software platform bringing automatic emergency steering and braking plus collision avoidance and mitigation, on top of new driver support features like Door Opening Alert, Pilot Assist with lane change assist, and an optional 360-degree camera with 3D view. There’s also Google Gemini built in for natural conversation with the car, and regular over-the-air updates so it keeps improving after you drive it away. And of course, the exclusive interview with Camile Audra from Volvo’s design team, where we get into the actual thinking behind the redesign.
Video Chapters
00:00 – Intro: Meeting Volvo Exterior Designer Camille with Simon
00:35 – Exterior Design Philosophy: Powerful Proportions and Playful Styling
00:49 – New Thor’s Hammer Headlights: Deconstructed Two-Line LED Expression
01:04 – Elongated Silhouette: Lowered Connected Bonnet Line and Sculpted Solid Volume
01:38 – Function Meets Form: Aerodynamic Efficiency and Hidden ADAS Radar Sensors
02:14 – Nevo EV Show 2026 Announcement: RDS Simmonscourt (Nov 7–8)
02:37 – Rear Lighting Redesign: Pure Iconic Lines, Flush Lenses and Smooth Surfacing
03:17 – Modern Visual Uplift: Aligning EX40 with Volvo’s Next-Gen EV Design Language
03:47 – Side Profile and Presence: Two-Tone Gloss Black Contrast Roof
04:22 – Performance and Charging Specs: Up to 575 km Range and 28-Minute DC Fast Charge
04:43 – Front Cockpit Tour: Smart Driver Storage and Tactile Physical Controls
05:51 – Gemini AI Assistant Integration: Natural Conversational Voice In-Car Tech
06:48 – Rear Passenger Space: Adult Headroom, Legroom and Flat Floor Evaluation
07:16 – Rear Cabin Amenities: Heated Rear Seats, Dual USB-C and ISOFIX Anchor Points
08:21 – Irish Launch and Order Timeline: 271 Deliveries Starting January
08:45 – Nevo EV Show Teaser and Outro
Top Features of the Refreshed Volvo EX40
Deconstructed Thor’s Hammer Matrix Lighting: Reinterprets Volvo’s signature front lighting graphic into a minimalist, two-line deconstructed motif 00:00:52, delivering a wider horizontal light path and superior adaptive night illumination 00:01:42.
Streamlined Bonnet and Aerodynamic Sculpting: Lowers the leading bonnet line to create an elongated horizontal profile 00:01:06, carving into body panels to reduce aerodynamic drag, preserve road confidence, and improve high-speed energy efficiency 00:01:52.
Seamless Sensor Integration: Conceals front radar units and advanced driver-assistance hardware behind flush bodywork panels 00:02:02, removing visual sensor clutter across the front fascia.
Modern Flush Rear Tail Lamps: Upgrades the vertical C-pillar tail lamps with flush outer lenses and ultra-clean horizontal LED elements 00:02:50, mirroring the styling of the flagship EX90 and EX30 while preserving the instantly recognisable EX40 silhouette 00:03:20.
575 km WLTP Range & High-Speed Charging: Delivers up to 575 km of range on a single charge 00:04:28, supported by fast DC charging capable of replenishing the battery from 10% to 80% in approximately 27 to 28 minutes 00:04:37.
Balanced Scandinavian Interior Ergonomics: Retains driver-focused physical buttons for window switches, media, and demisting controls 00:05:38, 00:06:32, paired with sustainable cabin materials, wireless smartphone charging, and practical door storage bins 00:05:04.
Spacious Rear Accommodation with Heated Bench: Comfortably seats adults over six feet tall with generous headroom and knee space 00:07:05, featuring dual rear USB-C ports, dual outer ISOFIX anchors, and dedicated rear heated seat controls 00:07:22.
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