XC40

Make
Volvo
Segment
SUV

Chinese automaker Geely has taken the covers off its new sedan called the Preface. Previewed by the Preface Concept, the sporty flagship sedan is the second product to be based on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) developed in collaboration with Volvo.

Although guilty of copycat design like some of its other Chinese contemporaries, Geely has unveiled some appealing vehicles of late and the Preface looks to continue that. There are definite shades of Volvo in the Preface's classy, sophisticated design. Geely's 'cosmos grille' and the horizontal headlamp units lend the sedan a neat, confident face.

After the great strides that Korean marques like Hyundai and Kia have made in terms of design over the last few years, Geely looks to be on the same upward trajectory if the Preface is anything to go by.

"We have strived to retain many of the aspects of the Preface Concept sedan that we showed in 2019," said Guy Burgoyne, Geely Design Shanghai Vice President. "With added feedback from Geely Auto users and our global fans, we have retained many aspects and also introduced several improvements to the production Preface."

As the second Geely to use the CMA platform, the Preface follows in the footsteps of the Xing Yue SUV which is expected to be launched globally imminently.

The Volvo XC40 also makes use of the CMA platform, a vehicle that is dynamically refined, which bodes well for Geely's new entrants. If the Volvo influence has anything to do with the Preface's cabin (Geely revealed no pictures of its interior), it should prove comfortable and stylish in there.

Details of the Preface's powertrains are unknown at this stage but we'll know more when the sedan launches in the fourth quarter of this year, although there are no signs that it'll be available in the US. With the Kandi 27 from China set to be the cheapest electric car in the US, it remains to be seen if the local market is ready for a more premium Chinese vehicle like the Preface.