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Overview

Image credits: Volvo

The Volvo S40 is the first new model from Volvo Cars following the success of the Volvo XC90, the SUV that redefined the segment.

The new Volvo S40 replaces the current S40, which was launched in Europe in 1995. It is the newest addition to Volvo's S-range, which also includes the larger Volvo S60 and S80 models.

Exhilarating design
From the outside, the new S40 is unmistakably a Volvo, a modern evolution of the extraordinary design language that began with the S80 luxury sedan.

The interior is a revolution, with an ultra-slim center console – the first of its kind in the automotive world – creating an aura of exclusivity, simplicity and space. 'The center console is a design icon for the new Volvo S40,' says Henrik Otto, Design Director at Volvo Cars. 'We intend to pursue our position as inaugurators in the car design world, not looking at what our competitors are doing. It is therefore far more valuable to keep an eye on what they're not doing.'

Volvo's Intelligent Vehicle Architecture (VIVA)
In the new Volvo S40, Volvo Cars continues its groundbreaking use of high-tensile steel. In the new front structure, four different grades of steel are used in an intelligent interplay to provide maximum safety for the car's occupants. 'Naturally, our goal is that the new Volvo S40 should be the safest car in its class,' says Volvo Cars President & CEO Hans-Olov Olsson.

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 new slim-design 5-cylinder engines is called Volvo's Intelligent Vehicle Architecture (VIVA), and represents a new approach to vehicle safety design.

New Volvo Performance
The new Volvo S40 is being introduced with a choice of innovative 5-cylinder engines: a normally aspirated unit producing 168-horsepower, and a 218-horsepower high-pressure turbocharged engine found in the T5. Those who crave an even more dynamic driving experience may equip a T5 with Volvo's new 6-speed close-ratio manual gearbox and electronically controlled all-wheel drive.

Appealing to younger buyers
'With the new Volvo S40, we now offer our customers large-car benefits across the entire line. This, combined with an exciting design and exceptional road manners, makes the new S40 a highly potent challenger in this segment,' comments Olsson.

Expanding the brand to appeal to a broader age range is an important part of Volvo Cars' strategy – it is particularly important that this new model appeal to young buyers. 'We want to attract customers into the Volvo family as early as possible, and the new Volvo S40 will definitely appeal to younger buyers,' said Olsson.

Produced in Ghent, Belgium
The new Volvo S40 will be built in the Volvo Cars factory in Ghent, Belgium, which has been thoroughly remodeled and modernized for this purpose at a cost of $387 million.

Production gets under way this autumn. In 2003, the new Volvo S40 will only be sold in Sweden, reaching markets in the rest of the world in early-to-mid 2004.Volvo Car Corporation expects 2004 sales of the new S40 to reach 70,000 cars. Annual sales for the U.S. market, the largest single market for the S40, are targeted at 28,000 units.

The new Volvo S40 is the first in a range of new Volvo models sharing common technology. Next in line is the Volvo V50, a premium activity wagon that will replace the current V40.

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.

Elizabeth Johnson

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