Britain’s biggest and best car buyer’s guide Reprinted from April 2012

VolVo V40‘Impressively classy V40 is just the car Volvo needs’

STARCAR

In detail

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What’s new?

Volvo V40What is it? An all-new, and much-needed, rival for the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and VW Golf Price from £18,995 On sale April MPG tbc CO2 from 94g/km

‘Boomerang’ rear lights use LED technology Illuminated lever shows which gear you’re in Scoop is a nod to Volvo P1800 of the 1960s Integral boot handle is built into tailgate Electronic display mimics analogue dials Headlights available with high-beam assist

EstatE or hatch?The V40 might look like a ‘lifestyle’ estate, but it’s

actually a hatchback

‘City Safety now works at up to 31mph’Volvo’s standard-fit anti-collision technology used to operate at up to 19mph

VolVo will fill a significant gap in its model range when this all-new V40 goes on sale in August. The five-door hatchback finally gives Volvo a direct rival for the big-selling Audi A3 Sportback, BMw 1 Series and Volkswagen Golf – something it has needed for a long time.

The V40 will replace the current S40 saloon and V50 estate models; Volvo is confident that the V40’s hatchback body will make it more popular than both. Anyone looking for an estate will be happy to trade up to a V60, says Volvo. The smaller, three-door C30 will remain on sale into 2013, at least.

V40 project leader Hakan Abrahamsson describes the V40 as a ‘high-density’ model that squeezes all the luxury and safety kit of its bigger, pricier cars into a compact package.

Externally, the family resemblance is clear; the V40’s styling has elements of the S60, V60 and XC60, with a hint of C30 at the rear. There’s a nod to the past, too, with a scoop at the top of the rear doors that references Volvo’s P1800 models of the 1960s and ’70s. The large front grille has an updated version of Volvo’s traditional look: solid diagonal bars either side of the logo are replaced by ones that taper at

l Longer and lower than C30l CO2 emissions from 94g/kml World-first pedestrian airbagl City Safety works up to 31mphl Replaces S40 and V50

Five key facts each end. Volvo says the V40’s exterior is designed to look dramatic, without being overly aggressive. The front of the car is particularly low, with an air intake at the bottom of the front bumper that emphasises its width. Volvo is also keen to point out the way the sides of the car narrow towards the roof and the fact that the V40 has the most steeply raked windscreen of any Volvo yet.

on higher-spec models – such as the one in our pictures – piano

black trim is used for the front grille slats, window surrounds and middle-pillar trim. A panoramic roof will be available and you can expect R Design models, with sportier

bumpers, larger alloy wheels and side sill extensions.

Underneath, the V40 sits on a modified version of the platform used for the current C30, S40 and V50. The wheelbase is 1cm longer, though, while the body is 14cm longer and 3cm lower; overall, the V40’s dimensions are very close to those of the current Audi A3 Sportback and the BMw 1 Series.

What’s it like inside?The cabin has a very similar look to the S60’s, and uses much of the same switchgear. it’s equally classy and, even on the {

STARCARIn detail

Impressively classy V40 is just the car

Volvo needs

says...

First look

‘The V40 will replace

the S40 saloon and V50 estate’

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whatcar.com APRIL 2012 APRIL 2012 whatcar.com

What’s new?

‘Frameless’ rearview mirror has a compass Front seats are supportive and comfortable Boot is rather narrow, but it’s a useful shape

How the V40 measures up

First look

pre-production car seen here, the quality of materials and finish is very impressive.

A range of finishes will be available for the dashboard and door trims, and new cloth and leather upholstery options will be available; a new leather trim has been developed with a finer grain that’s designed to give a more ‘natural’ look.

There are a few ‘surprise and delight’ features, too. Most obvious is the illuminated gearknob, which uses lEDs under a plastic cover that show which gear you’re in. it’ll be part of an affordable option for both manual and auto cars.

There’s also a sleek ‘frameless’ rearview mirror, which has no heavy plastic surround; Maria Uggler, one of the V40’s designers, says the rearview mirror is an automotive feature that’s been ‘undesigned’ for a long time. There’s a new

ambient cabin lighting system, too, which has the ability to change colour according to how the car is being driven. Volvo’s trademark ‘floating’ centre console is present, and there’s a new electronic instrument display that replicates traditional dials available as an option.

Three cabin colourschemes will be available, including a black one that’s darker than any of Volvo’s current interiors.

Cabin space is on a par with rivals such as the BMw 1 Series. There’s plenty of room up front and just enough head- and legroom for six-footers in the back. The boot is a useful regular shape, but it isn’t especially wide. A folding floor that incorporates

Volkswagen Golf Price from £15,865Length 4199mmWidth 1790mm*height 1479mm

audi a3Price from £18,500 (est) Length 4237mmWidth 1777mm height 1421mm

Volvo V40 Price from £18,995 Length 4370mmWidth 1780mm* height 1420mm

* Excluding mirrors

* Excluding mirrors

rEar ViEW Back-end styling features elements of the C30, V60 and XC60

‘The cabin looks similar to the

S60’s, and uses its switchgear’

hooks to stop bags rolling around will be available; with this in place, the rear seats fold to create a totally flat extended load area.

Extensive safety kitAs you’d expect, a range of high-tech safety kit is included. As well as the usual array of airbags and electronic driver aids, there’s an upgraded version of Volvo’s City Safety system that works up to 31mph.

There’s a world-first pedestrian airbag, too; if sensors detect a pedestrian collision, pyrotechnic devices push the bonnet hinges up and an airbag pops out from beneath to cover the windscreen and front pillars.

options will include an updated Blind Spot information System that uses radar – rather

than camera – technology and a lane-keeping aid that can steer the car back into the correct lane on the motorway.

Volvo is bullish about the V40’s dynamics and suggests its new electrically assisted steering system provides ‘better feel than

its rear-wheel-drive rivals’, the only one of which is the BMw 1 Series. There will be standard and sport suspension set-ups, depending on trim. As for engines, all of the launch units will be turbocharged and are familiar from Volvo’s current

model range. The petrol options are T3 and T4 1.6S with 150 and 180bhp, or the range-topping 250bhp, five-cylinder T5. The entry-level diesel is a 115bhp 1.6 D2 and there are D3 and D4 2.0-litre five-cylinder diesels with 150 and 177bhp.

Volvo will launch a new range of four-cylinder diesel engines in late 2013. The new XC90 will get them first, but they’ll be added to the V40 shortly after. Hybrid and electric versions are possible, too.

All models (except D2 until spring 2013), including automatic versions, will have an engine stop-start system as standard, but there are no plans for four-wheel-drive models.

tEchnoLoGy Media system is an updated version of the one introduced in the S60 and V60

safEty Radar-equipped blind-spot system uses a light to warn the driver of vehicles

DEtaiL Designers have added ‘surprise and delight’ features to enhance cabin ambience

quaLity Standard of fit and finish on the pre-production car we looked at was impressively high

Leo WilkinsonLeo.Wilkinson@whatcar.com

‘Floating’ centre console, as on other Volvos Sculpted rear seat offers space for three V40 replaces S40 and V50; C30 continues

‘Volvo is bullish about the V40’s dynamics’

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To be kept updated with V40 newsregister online at www.volvocars.co.uk/v40

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