Volvo V40 News

The V40 Cross Country will join the company's range of passenger-based SUVs in Australia but is unlikely to carry on the sharp pricing policy of its front-drive cousin.Volvo Cars Australia boss Matt Braid says extra hardware for the SUV range -- including all-wheel drive components -- would warrant a price premium. “The Cross Country version of this, we're looking at the third quarter of this year, but we haven't set a date yet.''“At this stage it's too early to confirm pricing, all-wheel drive will be available on a couple of models potentially, that hardware cost on top -- I don't think we'll be able to price it as sharply as we can the V40, but that category is developing as well so it's a bit of unknown. “I think it will be a good contender in there either way, we'll assess it closer to time,'' he says.The Cross Country model is expected to get a Haldex on-demand all-wheel drive system (similar to its XC60 sibling), hill descent control and rides 40mm higher than the recently-released V40, wearing body add-ons to distinguish its more adventurous tendencies.Engines slated for the Cross Country include the 2-litre and 2.5-litre T5 petrol automatics and the 1.6 and 2-litre turbodiesels seen here in the new V40. The SUV variants in the Volvo line-up reflect the growing domination of that vehicle type in the Australian market - the XC60 topped the sales tally for the Chinese-owned Swedish brand with 2179 sales, while the XC90 placed second with 1342 sales.Mr Braid said the new XC90 was much anticipated, even though the current model was still performing well in the sales race. “We've looking forward to the new version of that - the current one is selling very well, we only sold 6 less last year than we did in 2011.'' “The new XC90 has not been confirmed exactly, but we expect it at some stage in early 2015.''The company bean-counters are relying on the new V40 racking up between 800 and 1000 in its first full year on sale to offset the shortfall left when the C30, S40 and V50 models dwindle during 2013. “We could be conservative there but we have C30, S40 and V50 disappearing shortly, we sold just under 500 of those last year, if we sell 800 of these then we're happy,'' he says.Mr Braid says the brand has set a target in the vicinity of 6000 units - up slightly from last year's tally of 5375, which was the marque's highest Australian sales figure since it became a stand-alone brand. “We're targeting about 6000 which is the same pretty much as last year, there's opportunity in S60 and V40, so we'll ride with the opportunities as they present themselves but 6000 is what we'd like to achieve, whatever else comes on top of that,'' he says. 

The first car in the world with a pedestrian airbag has gone on sale in Australia – and it's made by the same company that invented the three-point seatbelt 54 years ago. The Volvo V40 hatch has sensors in the front bumper that detect when a pedestrian has been hit. They trigger a giant U-shaped airbag that inflates near the bottom of the windscreen. The airbag and bonnet – which pop-up in milliseconds – are designed to prevent head injuries, the single biggest cause of pedestrian deaths. The latest figures show that pedestrian deaths across Australia have fallen over the past five years – but they still account for 13 per cent of all road fatalities (170 of the 1297 deaths recorded in the 12 months to the end of January 2013), down from 20 per cent in 2009. “It’s fantastic technology and every car should have it,” said road safety campaigner and the chairman of the Pedestrian Council Of Australia and Harold Scruby. “But the question is: why don’t more cars have it?” Scruby said federal regulations lag behind the world’s best automotive standards: “Seven years after Europe adopted regulations for pedestrian protection, the Australian government still hasn’t adopted mandatory standards for frontal protection systems”. Pedestrians shouldn’t get too brave if they see a Volvo heading their way, however. Jaywalkers and those who want to test out the new airbag by not crossing the road quickly enough – or who cross on a red signal – risk an $89 ticket in NSW. Bumping into a pedestrian won’t be a cheap experience for drivers, either. The airbag and its deployment system – two pyrotechnic bonnet struts – are estimated to cost about $3000 to replace. Furthermore, buyers may not necessarily get a discount on their insurance premiums, either. NRMA Insurance began offering a 20 per cent discount on another Volvo model introduced two years ago because it can automatically brake at slow speeds if the driver isn’t paying attention. The system was initially foolproof at 30km/h but has been upgraded on the latest Volvo to avoid a crash at up to 50km/h. “We haven’t yet inspected the but we don’t automatically apply discounts to cars with autonomous emergency braking systems," said Robert McDonald, research manager for NRMA Insurance. "We look at what situations the system works in, and other risk factors such as parts prices and general damageability.” The price of the Volvo V40 is expected to start at about $35,000 – but it has a $6000 option pack that will make it almost impossible to crash, which includes: pedestrian detection and automatic braking (which negates the need for the pedestrian airbag) radar cruise control with queue assist (which automatically creeps the car forward in stop-start traffic) lane wander alert (which vibrates the steering wheel if you change lanes without indicating) auto-dipping high beam (which detects oncoming cars and cuts the bright lights so you don’t dazzle other drivers). This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling  

Volvo's V40 premium hatchback goes on sale next month for $34,990 - in 1.6-litre turbodiesel six-speed manual guise - although an automatic option doesn't appear in the pricelist until the D4 two-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel Kinetic at $41,990.The Swede's value equation - which puts it up against a number of European hatchbacks including the sharply-priced A-Class from Mercedes-Benz - also includes free scheduled servicing for three years or 60,000km.A world-first pedestrian airbag is among the standard safety features arsenal that resulted in the V40 a five-star NCAP crash test result, scoring the program's best-ever score.The advanced safety features pack includes adaptive cruise control with collision warning and automatic braking functions, blind spot and lane departure warning, a cross traffic warning, Driver Support Pack ($5000) active high beam and automatic parking functions.The option package - available on Luxury and R-Design models - also includes the road sign information system that can decipher roadside speed limit signs and display them in the vehicle's high-tech instrument panel.The five-door Volvo range will be available in three different trim types - Kinetic, Luxury and R-Design - and tops out at just under $50,000.Volvo Car Australia managing director Matt Braid says the brand was surprised by the sharp A-Class pricing but was still aiming for 800 to 1000 sales in the vehicle's first year on the market.Mr Braid says the value of the included maintenance was valued between $1500 and $2500, depending on the model."Combined with an incredibly sharp opening price point, the V40 is a car that offers extraordinary value for money, class-leading safety attributes, world-first innovations... all up, it is an extremely compelling offering to potential customers purchasing in this segment," he says.Volvo V40: 

The Cross Country (hence, XC) version adds all-wheel drive, increased ride height, a hard-edged body kit, integrated skid plate and roof rails. It goes on display at the Paris motor show this month but though Volvo Australia says it's on the wish list, it's too early to talk price, specifications and delivery times. Volvo Car senior vice president of product, Lex Kerssemakers, says the Cross Country was designed "for those who want a sense of adventure in their everyday life''. "The new V40 Cross Country is built on the heritage that started with the V70 Cross Country back in 1997,'' he says. Australia has the pick of the drivetrain options though likely to stay away from the less powerful versions. In Europe - where it starts production next month with deliveries in January - the V40 Cross Country will be offered in front-wheel and all-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive (AWD) will be standard equipment on the T5-powered cars. There will be three turbo-diesel engines - a 85kW/285Nm 1.6-litre and two 2-litres (132kW/400Nm and 110kW/350Nm) - and two turbocharged petrol engines - a 1.6-litre four and a 2.5-litre five-cylinder. The 2.5-litre T5 petrol engine has 190kW/400Nm and claims 8.2 L/100km. The 1.6-litre direct-injection T4 petrol has 135kW/270Nm and Volvo claims it has a fuel average of 5.5 L/100km. Three transmissions will be available - a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic (T5) and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic (T4). AWD is standard on the T5 and to expand it's go-anywhere appeal, adds hill-descent control and a hill holder system. It can be optioned with a TFT digital instrument display that includes a three-mode driving program - Elegance, Performance or Eco - depending on driver mood and road conditions. Volvo claims the Cross Country will carry over all the features of the V40 hatchback. This includes stop-start as standard across the range, together with Bluetooth hands-free communication and audio streaming. There is also a mobile application the allows the driver to stay in touch with the parked car via an iPhone or Android smart phone. An extension of Volvo On Call, the app is free to download and is designed to offer the owner an intuitive, easy-to-use relationship with the car from a distance. For example, the owner can check fuel levels before starting the journey or get information on wiper fluid or oil levels, or check whether the car has been locked. Safety items as standard are City Safety auto-braking technology and the V40's world-first pedestrian airbag. The car is claimed to be the only one in its class to be available with Pedestrian Detection technology. Volvo Car, owned by Geely of China, says it expects to sell 17,000 units a year - about 50 per cent to Europe and around 30 per cent to China. It will be built alongside the V40 and R-Design models at Volvo's factories in Belgium.  

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 car would face off against the popular BMW Mini and Audi A1 in the booming premium small car segment. But partnership with another carmaker would be sought for such a project, a report in industry journal Automotive News Europe said. Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby told the journal a subcompact car project would require a partnership to share costs, and a smaller engine – most likely developed in cooperation with the Swedish brand’s Chinese parent, Zhejiang Geely. Jacoby pointed to there being a reasonable business case for such a project, saying ‘small’ did not translate as ‘cheap’ in the entry-premium market, which even in Europe’s slumped economy saw 19 per cent growth last year with 332,262 sales – led by the Audi A1."Premium customers no longer define luxury based on the size of the car or number of cylinders, there are other attributes which will come into play," he said. However Jacoby told the journal there were other tasks to be cleared from his jobsheet before he could look at a new subcompact. "My priority is to bring the Scalable Platform Architecture online and to renew Volvo's core ranges, the 60, the 80/90 and the SUVs," Jacoby said. "When I have managed this, I will look to diversification, going into niches, doing a sportback and also looking to smaller cars."  

And before you reply, understand that this Swede is big on playing with steel and engines - kinky! For the first time, Volvo is openly hawking partners to take it to the next stage and inject capital to ensure it remains a stand-alone business.Volvo product planner Lex Kerssemakers says the company's owner, the Chinese conglomerate Geely, wants Volvo to be a stand-alone operation "so we can fund our future and continue making new products''."We aren't in a hurry. We can live without an alliance for a few years yet because we have the C-platform of the V40 to work on," he says, adding however: "Volvo won't renew our technical partnership with Ford.''That means the end of a partnership with Ford - who until two years ago owned Volvo - and created the S40, V50, S60 and other models that shared platforms, components and drivetrains with Ford.The Ford Focus, for example, shares the platform with the S40 and V50 while the S60 is on the same base as the Ford Mondeo.Engines and transmissions are also common, with Volvo sharing Ford's six-speed dual-clutch automatic and the turbocharged four-cylinder engines including the 2-litre EcoBoost now in the Ford Falcon."We have to have alliances,''Kerssemakers says. "We're talking to some companies and we may look to share engines in the future with a partner. "Anyone who makes a C-platform (Focus size) is a possible partner.'' But though the relationship with Ford has ended, Kerssemakers says that doesn't mean it wouldn't forge another deal. "We're very happy with Ford - always have been,'' he says. "We could make an alliance with them work. You can't rule anything out today - everyone is talking to everyone else - just look at the PSA Peugeot and General Motors alliance.'' On the flip side, Kerssemakers says Volvo has a lot to offer in a relationship. "We are one to two years ahead of the game when it comes to plug-in technology,'' he says. "We can share that, depending on price. Were also talking electrification and safety with China. "We are a bit ahead of China. They look to us. But China is good at low-cost platforms and we could use that. There's nothing wrong with their quality.'' Kerssemakers says plug-in hybrid technology was "very, very expensive''. "It's only for diesels at the moment but we see huge benefits because it offers the best of two worlds - performance and economy. "It's ideal for a partnership.''

The new V40 is a good looker - the equal of competitor offerings and has an edge in the safety department.Essentially a slightly condensed five door hatchback version of the S60 sedan or a scaled up C30, the V40 is Volvo's big news for 2012.It's due to go into production soon but Australian deliveries aren't likely until next year. In addition to a bevy of safety equipment, V40 boasts plenty of high-tech features and `big car' thinking.The clean and elegant lines display a high-end fit and finish and meticulous attention to detail.The interior is designed with a strong emphasis on ergonomics, comfort and an engaging driving experience. Key features include an optional fixed panorama glass roof that stretches from the front windscreen to the backrest of the rear seats.It is tinted and designed to reduce infrared radiation into the passenger compartment; The V40 features Volvo's ultra-slim centre stack, now in a more sculpted version than before;The interior lighting is designed to give a 'theatre lighting' feel. LED lamps are used to light up strategic areas. The driver can enjoy a red-to-blue setting that adapts the light to the interior temperature  or choose between another seven mood themes. The reading lights front and rear can also be dimmed.Leather surfaces are chrome-free. The "Clean Compartment" scheme is recommended by the Swedish Asthma & Allergy organisation; The fuel-filler pipe is self-closing  a smart design that makes refuelling easier since there is no longer a need for a fuel-filler cap.V40 adds several class-leading features to a full deck of safety and driver support systems, making it the most "IntelliSafe" Volvo yet. It has as standard, Pedestrian Airbag Technology which is designed to mitigate a collision with a pedestrian.V40 will feature the updated City Safety technology  now active at speeds up to 50km/h (previously 30km/h) as standard and offer Volvo's ground-breaking Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake for the first time to buyers in this segment.Other driver support systems are available. With a renewed focus on driving pleasure, the chassis in the all-new Volvo V40 has been designed to offer a responsive, agile and connected driving experience.A range of engines and transmissions will be available including plug in EV technology, hybrid diesel, diesel and petrol turbo models.