One of Volvo’s best selling models in 2006 gets a redesign. The S40 will be given better Volvo car parts and refined design that will enhance its versatility and safety even further.

Getting closer to the all-new Volvo S80 saloon design, the Volvo S40 now features a reprofiled nose and chrome framed ‘egg-crate’ grille, complete with a 50 per cent larger Volvo badge.

The S40 now have a more distinctive front thanks to the new clear-lensed Volvo headlights. It also has a full-width air intake which incorporates the fog lamps and a central mesh section. At the rear, the S40’s new tail light units are now smaller, with new graphics and sit 30 mm higher than previously. A new bumper, revised boot handle design and a more sporting exhaust pipe layout complete the exterior enhancement.

The new Volvo S40 also gets some safety features, like the Active Bi-Xenon headlamps that swivel the light beam in the direction of the road when the driver turns the steering wheel. A new warning flashers that automatically activates when the airbags are deployed, a feature that will help attract the attention of other motorists during a car accident, is also included. The brake lights now have the EBL (Emergency Brake Lights) function, which causes them to flash rapidly when the driver stamps hard on the Volvo brakes, so as to effectively alert traffic behind the car. These enhanced safety features will really make the ride safer and more reliable.

The new Volvo S40 can also include with premiere audio system. The most advanced of the three systems, Premium Sound, has a digital amplifier from Alpine, Dolby Pro Logic II Surround and loudspeakers from Dynaudio of Denmark. In the High Performance and Premium Sound systems it is possible to play CD discs with music in MP3 or WMA format. This means that the CD changer can store several hundred music tracks and give the owner access to his or her own private home music library even while on the move.

The new Volvo S40 also benefit from an enhanced powertrain offer. The D5 diesel engine will be available with a slick six-speed manual transmission. Because of its more robust nature, the transmission can handle the engine’s full 400 Nm of torque, compared to the 350 Nm of the automatic gearbox. The transmission, which arrives later this year, will make the turbodiesel D5 not only the fastest diesel-powered Volvo to date but also one of the cleanest – the advanced powerplant will be fully compliant with anticipated stringent Euro V emission regulations. Lastly, the turbo-charged T5 model enjoys a 10 hp increase, taking total output to a full 230 bhp.

With all the Volvo S40 parts packed in this car, surely it will be a best selling model for this year.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 24th, 2007 at 3:03 am and is filed under Volvo News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.