Image credits: © Volvo.

MSRP: $28,550-33,800
Invoice: $26,835-31,770

2009 Volvo S40 news, pictures, and information

Model Overview: 2009 Volvo S40

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price
S40 2.4i: $28,550
S40 T5 R-Design: $32,350
S40 T5 AWD R-Design: $33,800
Destination: $825

There's a new sporty flair in the S40 lineup as Volvo equips the turbocharged T5 front - and AWD models with standard R-Design equipment. Cues that set the R-Design apart include a unique grille with matte silver surround and R-Design logo, a sport body kit with color-coordinated side skirts and front and rear spoilers, Off Black Flextech/Crème premium leather seating surfaces with embossed R-Design logo, aluminum sport pedals, sport shift knob, R-Design inlays, watch dial instrument cluster and sport steering wheel.

In addition to the R-Design elements, both T5 models are enhanced with standard power driver seat memory, heated front seats, Bluetooth hands-free phone interface and auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass. New 18-inch 'Midir' diamond-cut wheels are now optional. And so is the enhanced Volvo DVD-based navigation system with improved driver interface.

Meanwhile the normally aspirated S40 2.4i receives a plethora of standard features that were previously optional. Enhancing the value of Volvo's most attainable sedan is a standard 5-speed automatic transmission, 17-inch 'Spartacus' wheels, high-performance sound system with 6-disc in-dash CD player and MP3 capability, Sirius satellite radio, aluminum inlays, power moonroof, front fog lights, power driver's seat and Bluetooth. Nordic Light Oak inlays can be selected as an option.

A choice of powerplants gives each S40 model a distinct character. The normally aspirated 5-cylinder engine produces 168-horsepower to motivate the S40 2.4i. Boosting the fun factor, output for the S40 T5 high-pressure turbocharged engine is a lively 227 horsepower. The added traction and security of electronically controlled all-wheel drive is fitted to the T5 AWD model.

The S40 provides confidence-inspiring performance with each engine. An extremely rigid platform affords levels of steering precision and suspension nimbleness found in the top vehicles in its class. Advanced braking, steering and chassis systems enable the S40 to feel secure in its capabilities across a broad spectrum of driving conditions.

Automatic Hazard Warning is a new safety feature that made its debut last year. Should any of the S40's airbags be deployed, the hazard lights will automatically be activated to attract the attention of other motorists. A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is standard and Volvo's ingenious Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) remains optional on all models. Active Bi-Xenon headlights that swivel the light beam in continuous synch with steering direction is available.

Side impact protection is addressed by the use of extremely rigid cross members that form a 3-way attachment between the leading edge of the A-pillar and the base of the B-pillar. Similar cross members are found in the rear doors as well. This system of energy absorption, along with the slim-design 5-cylinder engines is called Volvo's Intelligent Vehicle Architecture (VIVA), representing an innovative approach to vehicle safety design.

Source - Volvo

Volvo Introduces R-Design

R-Design - an exclusive factory-fitted premium styling concept for customers who want a car with refined, sporty attributes.

R-Design will initially be available on the Volvo C30, Volvo S40, Volvo V50 and Volvo XC90 as of autumn 2008.

Volvo's R cars have always been about dynamic design and an exciting driving experience. For the 2009 Model Year, Volvo Cars of North America (VCNA) will introduce R-Design for the C30, S40, V50 and XC90. R-Design includes model-specific design cues that promise to draw a lot of attention while still offering a premium experience.

'The possibility of tailoring one's car to suit personal tastes is becoming increasingly important to car buyers today. R-Design has been developed for buyers who want a refined and sporty look for their cars,' noted Gerry Keaney, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Cars.

Customers can choose between 10 exterior colors, and the R-Design badge in the grille is accompanied by a range of specially designed exterior and interior details.

Exterior features include a satin matt-finish grille, color coordinated bumpers and lower side moldings, rear or roof spoiler, satin matt-finish door mirror caps and five-spoke aluminum wheels.

Sporty 17 inch and 18 inch wheels will be available on C30, S40 and V50 R-Design, while 19 inch and 20 inch wheels will be available on XC90 R-Design (dependent upon car variant).

Contrasting seats

Inside the cars (C30, S40 and V50) there are seats in off-black Vulcaflex with the seat cushion and backrest in contrasting cream-colored leather. The R-Design logo embossed on the backrest and the contrasting stitching reinforce the seats' sporty appearance.

Other R-Design interior details include a leather-trimmed steering wheel with R-Design logo, the unique R-inspired instrument cluster, aluminum sport pedals, specially designed aluminum center stack and door inlays, gear selector with aluminum inlay and tufted dark sport floor mats with contrasting light leather seams.

Emotional and extrovert

'R-Design is entirely in line with the accelerated focus on making our cars more extroverted and emotional. It gives the buyers the opportunity to spice up the already distinct personality of these car models,' commented Steve Mattin, Senior Vice President and Design Director at Volvo Cars.

The R-Design package will become available on the C30, S40, V50 and XC90 in the autumn of 2008.

Source - Volvo

Packing a lot into a compact sedan, the Volvo S40 features numerous safety features, mostly standard, and luxurious detail into its compact package. Enjoying several popular years in Europe the US sales began in 2000 following Ford's acquisition of Volvo. For 2004 the Volvo S40 was updated once again with the addition of a more generous interior along with enhanced safety features.

Entry-level luxury vehicles/ compact executive cars, the Volvo S40, V40 and V50 are produced by Volvo cars. The first generation was launched in 1995, while the second followed in 2004. The second generation has been listed by Forbes as one of the best luxury vehicles for young affluent drivers. According to J.D. Power and Associates it is also the most popular car among women in the luxury segment in the US market.

The S40 saloon, (sedan) and V50 estate (station wagon) were introduced during the summer of 1998. Built in the Netherlands, the cars were produced at the NedCar factory which was a pre-Ford joint venture between Volvo and Mitsubishi Motors. Though the Japanese version did not sell as well as in Europe, the S40 was based on a common platform with the Mitsubishi Carisma.

For 2000 the 40 series was updated and featured a variety of technical improvements simultaneously introduced and those included improved engine management, additional safety features, larger brake disc, direct fuel injection, new front suspension and steering, updated rear suspension, larger tires and a slight widening of the track width.

The only engine available in North America was the 1.9-liter. Equipped with four-cylinder engines, the 40 series came with a 1.9 L diesel or 1.6, 1.8, or 2.0-liter fuel injected gasoline engines with low and high pressure turbo variants at the top of the motor range. Trim levels in the UK were base, SE and CD. The first vehicle to earn four stars in Euro-NCAP was the Volvo S40.

Debuting during the middle of the 2004 model year, the second generation S40 featured a new design that was based on the Volvo P1 platform built at the Volvo Cars factory in Ghent, Belgium. The V40 was replaced by the V50 estate in this same year.

For 2005 the Volvo S40 was nominated for the World Car of the Year award and also won the Canadian Car of the Year Best New Sport Compact Award. For the same year the S40 was also elected as the South African Car of the Year by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists.

Wile the majority of its components along with its chassis were developed by Volvo, very similar mechanical components can be found on the European Ford Focus and the Mazda3. The latest generation of Volvo's 5 cylinder engines, a 2.5L 5-cylinder had been continually developed by Volvo since the debut of the engines in the 850 in 1993. The 2.4, 2.4i and the top of the line S40 T5 AWD continues to be made by Volvo. The AWD system is bought from Haldex of Sweden while the transmission is developed through GETRAG of Germany.

One of several variants of the S40, the S40 T5 features a 2.5 L five-cylinder fuel injection with a light-pressure turbocharger. A DOHC design, the valvetrain has four valves per cylinder. Following in the tradition of the first generation, the engine is transversely mounted at the front of the vehicle and drives the front wheels.

For the 2008 model year the Volvo S40 was updated and now featured a sporty new look along with updated premium feel. Newly updated audio systems were showcased, along with rapidly growing storage space in the new S40. New safety features that included Emergency Brake Lights which flash rapidly during hard braking to alert traffic behind the vehicle was now added. Optional Active Bi-Xenon headlights which point the light beam in the direction of the road as it curves, was also added.

Now achieving an output of 227 hp, the T5 engine received a performance increase of 9 hp. Halfway through the 2007 the D5 engine became available with a manual gearbox now offering 400 Nm of torque instead of the automatic transmission's 350 Nm.

While the current S40 is based on the C30, the new S40 will be based on the new C2 platform.

Jessica Donaldson

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Vehicle Spotlight

2009 Volvo models
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Volvo S40 DRIVe
Volvo S60
Volvo S80
Volvo V50 DRIVe
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