Volvo V40 2002 News

The latest and smallest pocket-rocket from Sweden is being eyed by Volvo Car Australia, which is in the final stages of price negotiations for the performance flagship of the V40 range.The R-Design model will again be limited to the T5 drivetrain - unlike its home market where it can be applied across the petrol and turbodiesel engine line-up.In Australia the V40 R-Design will have 187kW and 360Nm (400Nm on overboost) at its disposal to propel it to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds, with an electronically-limited top speed of 250km/h.It will top a range of V40 engines that will start with an 84kW/270Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel (in manual only), a 2-litre, 5-cylinder 130kW/400Nm turbodiesel, a 2-litre 132kW/300Nm 5-cylinder turbocharged petrol that will only be available with an automatic transmission.Volvo Australia's Oliver Peagam says the brand was still fine-tuning the line-up and pricing but was hopeful of getting the R-Design available from launch. "It's going to be early next year, we're hoping to have it as part of the V40 launch in the first quarter. "Historically we've only had an R-Design on the T5 and T6 engines, I think we'll be maintaining that tradition," he says.Available in six colours, including the pictured Rebel Blue, the new V40 R-Design is laying claim to having the looks and high performance driving experience to back it up. The snout has been altered with a new glossy "silk-metal" grille, with the same finish applied to a number of other exterior trim pieces, as well as an "ironstone" rear diffuser, twin exhausts and sits on 18in "diamond cut" alloy wheels.The cabin gets the mainstream V40's new dashboard, which offers three layout choices for the driver, Elegance, Eco and Performance - the difference in the R-Design being that all three carry the blue-colour theme. Seating is upgraded but Volvo says they are still a clearly Scandinavian design - leather and Nubuck trimmed with an R-design logo, or an optional full-leather pew is available.The cabin also gets model-specific steering wheel, gear shift, handbrake and sports pedals, as well as aluminium trim additions. Volvo Car product strategy senior vice president Lex Kerssemakers says the R-Design's attention to detail covers the expressive design as well as the agile, precise performance."The V40 R-Design is designed around the performance-minded individual with a passion for those things that add extra spice to life," he says. Sitting on what Volvo calls a heavily-modified version of the Ford Focus platform, the V40 R-Design's Sport suspension sits 10mm lower and has been developed in conjunction with Swedish race-ace Robert Dahlgren and the Volvo Polestar Black R team.The springs and dampers have been tightened up accordingly and anti-roll bars' diameters have been increased as well. Volvo says R-Design buyers' passion for a fast-paced life is not just about speed and acceleration "Agility and precision are equally important for these performance-minded individuals. The Sport chassis is designed to offer a class-leading, intense driving experience, no matter if you prioritise maximum fuel-efficiency or rapid acceleration," says Mr Kerssemakers.The Swedish brand is aiming the driver-orientated vehicle at younger buyers. "Previous R-Design models have played an important role for increasing our sales and for lowering the age of our customer base. "We believe that the new V40 R-Design will give this trend another boost," says Mr Kerssemakers. 

the sensible Swedish maker has done it again with its smooth looking new mid-sized V40 wagon.

The pedestrian-protecting safety feature will be included as standard in the V40 five-door hatchback which is due for release here late this year or early next year, says Volvo Car Australia spokesman Oliver Peagam. The airbag technology unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show pops the rear of the bonnet when the vehicle strikes a pedestrian. The angled bonnet deflects the pedestrian who then strikes a U-shaped airbag released from the rear of the bonnet. It inflates high enough to soften the blow of the windscreen but still allow the driver to see over the top. Other manufacturers have released vehicles with bonnets that crumple or pop up to deflect pedestrians and soften the blow, but this is the world's first vehicle with an outside pedestrian airbag. Volvo's pedestrian airbag will be paired with their pedestrian-avoidance system which debuted on the 2010 S60. It alerts drivers of pedestrians stepping into the vehicle's path and automatically stops the car. Peagam says the pedestrian airbag will be one of several "unique selling propositions" for the V40. "It's also the first time we've had a five-door, five-seater hatchback since the 300 series," he says. "We don't know how much it (the airbag) will affect the price. We're still doing the business case on the pricing and spec. I think the airbag is part of the evolution of Volvo's strong history in all things safety. "The company is making sure we stay at the forefront of auto safety." The V40 is the only new Volvo planned for release in the next year. Airbags were invented in 1951, but the first passenger car with the safety device installed was the 1973 Oldsmobile Toronado. The unveiling of the new airbag comes as Volvo Australia has issued a voluntary safety recall of 1255 of its current models over a possible failure of front seat airbags to deploy in a crash. Vehicles affected are 2012 model XC70, V60, S60 and XC60. The fault is caused by the wiring harness under the front seats not being properly attached to the seat frame and may come loose. This could cause the SRS warning lamp to illuminate or the airbags to fail in a crash. Owners will be contacted by letter and should contact dealers for inspection and a free fix. Volvo Car Australia spokesperson Laurissa Mirabelli says there have been no reported incidents involving faulty airbags here.