Volvo S40 - model year 2009 - AUTUMN 2008

Volvo S40 - model year 2009 - AUTUMN 2008

Launch

The Volvo S40 was launched in autumn 2003 as a somewhat larger sedan evolution of its Dutch-built predecessor. The design language and the specification level harmonised more closely with the larger Volvo S60. The aim was to give customers large-car properties in a compact format and with clearly sporty overtones.

The Volvo S40 has been developed to attract young buyers looking for a compact premium car with the qualities and characteristics of a larger Volvo model.

Business project manager: Peter Ewerstrand.

New features, Volvo S40, model year 2009 (autumn 2008) - brief summary

- DRIVe

- Alcoguard

- Powershift

- 1.6 D diesel engine (DRIVe)

- DRIVe (additional information)

- USB port

- HD radio (USA)

- DAB-radio

- RTI system

Please note that some systems and functions are optional.

Design

The Volvo S40 has a compact body with rounded lines and a clean-cut tail section. The car's appearance exudes modern design and speed. The short bonnet and pronounced cab-forward stance help create a spacious cabin with generous interior space. Broad haunches and convex side panels signal power and underscore the car's compact dimensions.

The sporty and prestigious front has elements from the Volvo S80 and V70. The grille has a deep mesh pattern that clearly distinguishes the S40 from the V50 model. Surrounding chrome mouldings helps to emphasise the premium image.

The headlamps are the same on the S40 and the V50 models and come in three different versions:

    * Halogen

    * Dual Xenon

    * Active Bending

The Active Bending headlamps rotate together with the steering wheel for optimal lighting when driving on winding roads.

The tail lamps follow Volvo's modern form. And as of model year 2009, the space between the letters in the rear Volvo emblem has been increased in order to enhance visibility of the brand. The individual letters will also be larger.

The lower door mouldings and the sill mouldings enhance the sporty character of the car. In addition to standard black they can be painted in the same colour as the car's body. To protect the painted sill mouldings they are combined with small mud flaps behind the front wheels. The lower sections of the front and rear spoiler are also available in black or in the colour co-ordinated version. The T5 and D5 models always come with colour co-ordinated mouldings and spoilers as standard (European version).

The Volvo S40 DRIVe model (more information found in the "Environment" section below) has a number of unique aerodynamic design elements that, beside optimising airflow and lowering fuel consumption, visualise the entire DRIVe philosophy. The S40 1.6 D DRIVe comes with an aluminium wheel, Libra, in two different sizes, 15" or 16". In addition, the front spoiler and the spoiler on the boot lid come from the Volvo S40 T5 and D5 models.   

As an option, the front side windows can be given an extra water repellent coating. The treatment means that water blows off the glass more easily, improving visibility during rain.

An Auto-fold function has been introduced for the power retractable mirror option. With the Auto-fold function, the mirrors are set to automatically fold in when the car is locked. When the car is unlocked, the mirrors will fold out again.

Legal requirements in the U.S. and Canada prohibit automatically closing windows by pressing a button. As of week 820, the global close function on the lock/unlock switch in the door panels will be deactivated.

The following exterior colours are available for the Volvo S40:

    * Black Stone Solid (019)

    * Passion Red Solid (612)

    * Ice White Solid (614)

    * Silver Metallic (426)

    * Black Sapphire Metallic (452)

    * Titanium Grey Pearl (455)

    * Flint Grey Metallic (462)

    * Safari Green Pearl (464)

    * Barents Blue Pearl (466)

    * Brilliant Blue Pearl (476)

    * Electric Silver Metallic (477)

    * Maple Red Pearl (478)

    * Orinoco Blue Pearl (479)

    * Gecko Green Pearl (488)

    * Matt Gold Pearl (489)

    * Chameleon Blue Pearl (490)

    * Savile Grey Pearl (492)

Despite its compact exterior dimensions, the Volvo S40 offers a spacious and flexible interior. Every passenger seat has a fold-flat backrest. With the seats folded down, the load compartment floor is entirely flat. The interior is inspired by Scandinavian product design with the emphasis on uncluttered surfaces, honest materials and good function. The Volvo S40 saw the introduction of Volvo's ultra-slim, free-floating centre console with illuminated storage compartment behind.

The Volvo S40 was also launched with a specially developed upholstery material called T-Tec, which echoes ultra-modern sports clothes and travel goods.

The tunnel console and the armrest have been given a design matching the dashboard's unique, floating centre console and with the same type of decor inserts. The aim has been to provide the highest possible feeling of quality while still increasing the flexibility and storage possibilities.

The space below the centre armrest is deep, long and wide and can house 10 CDs. The audio system AUX input is located here. In the armrest cover, there is extra storage space that can house mobile telephones, MP3 players or other odds and ends. The storage space in front of the armrest has room for two removable cup holders. The space is covered by an elegant black rubber roll-top.

Safety

Volvo Cars adopts a holistic view of safety that encompasses both Preventive and Protective safety. Preventive safety is closely linked to the car's driving properties. The body of the Volvo S40 features immense torsional rigidity and the car has a sturdy chassis, a combination that results in consistent, predictable behaviour on the road.

Volvo Cars has developed various information systems designed to help the driver while on the move. One such system is IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System), which for instance delays incoming phone calls in complex traffic situations that require the driver's undivided attention. Protective safety in the Volvo S40 is structured around a network consisting of exterior and interior safety systems that interact with one another to reduce the risk of occupant injury in a collision.

The exterior systems have the task of distributing and absorbing incoming collision forces so that the passenger compartment remains as intact and undamaged as possible. The body is therefore built in the form of a metal cage made using different grades of steel, where all the components interact with one another to ensure controlled deformation.

The interior safety systems aim to keep the passengers securely in place and also to reduce the risk of serious injury. In order to provide the most effective protection possible, Volvo Cars has developed a number of in-house systems, such as WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) and IC (Inflatable Curtain). All are fitted as standard in the Volvo S40. What is more, all five seats are equipped with three-point inertia-reel seat belts, belt pre-tensioners and head restraints. The highest possible safety requires that all the car's occupants always use their seat belts.

The Volvo S40 can be equipped with the HomeLink function. The function makes it possible to operate up to three remote controlled home devices (e.g., garage door, home alarm system, etc.) via a module integrated into the sun visor. HomeLink contributes to easy and safe access to your home.

Volvo S40 is available with an advanced function that helps reducing the risk of alcohol-related traffic accidents. This function, Alcoguard, is an immobiliser that helps the driver to make a decision whether to drive or not while influenced by alcohol. However, it is ultimately the driver's responsibility to make "sober" decisions in relation to the Alcoguard function's recommendations.  

Driveline and handling

The engines in the Volvo S40 are transversely installed in-line units. New methods of shrinking the engine's external dimensions have made it possible to fit a five-cylinder engine in the compact S40 body. Volvo can thus offer a compact car with high performance and large-car feel. A five-cylinder engine gives low vibration and smooth operation. Together with large displacement, the five-cylinder configuration provides high torque across a broad rev band, and thus also swift acceleration and excellent driveability within a wide speed range. Four-cylinder engines are available as an option.

The Volvo S40 T5 is the top model, featuring a turbocharger and five-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox. The T5 model is also available with electronically controlled All-Wheel Drive.

The engine programme for the Volvo S40 is as follows:

*All diesel engines have a turbo function.

In addition, a new type of six-speed automatic gearbox, Powershift, is available for the Volvo S40 2.0 (petrol engine) model. Powershift reduces fuel consumption by 8%, in comparison with other automatic gearboxes, and it provides improved drivability as well. Note that the combination of the 2.0-litre petrol engine and Powershift is not available in USA, Canada and Europe.

Volvo's 1.6 D diesel engine has been updated and optimised, with the ambition of reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ (carbon dioxide) emissions even further. Since this engine is included in the DRIVe concept, more information about the engine is found in the "Environment" section below.

The chassis, with spring struts at the front and Multilink axle at the rear, is set up for stable, reassuring driving manners and alert steering response. The Multilink rear axle is an independent rear suspension system featuring a number of links and it is designed to offer a good combination of controlled wheel movements and high ride comfort. Some of these links have the task of providing a certain degree of anti-skid steering effect. A long wheelbase and wide track, together with a very torsionally rigid body, contribute to the predictable, controlled driving manners. Volvo's advanced DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) stability-enhancing system is fitted as standard. DSTC cuts in and helps stabilise the car if it registers any tendency to skid.

The 4-cylinder engine family can now be supplemented by a fuel-operated engine heater. The heater will be available for the 1.8 and 2.0 petrol engines but not for the 1.8 Flexifuel engine.

The environment

The Volvo S40 is designed and equipped to impact as little as possible on the global environment and to offer a clean and healthy interior climate. Petrol engines with low internal friction, efficient combustion and advanced exhaust filtration technology result in low emissions. Energy-efficient diesel engines with particle filters produce low emissions of carbon dioxide and soot particles. In addition, the Volvo S40 is available on the Swedish market with an ethanol-powered FlexiFuel engine.

DRIVe, Volvo's environment concept, that focuses on lower fuel consumption and CO₂ (carbon dioxide) emissions, extends over more than than just these areas. Besides an updated version of Volvo's 1.6-litre diesel engine, DRIVe features a number of aerodynamic body parts (unique for the DRIVe concept) and the chassis is lowered 10 mm. The 1.6-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine, the aerodynamic elements and other improvements, have altogheter lowered the CO₂ emission level to 118g/km. This means that Volvo S40 1.6 D DRIVe fulfills the EU requirement of 120g/km, making it possible for the owner to, besides reducing CO₂ emissions, benefit from tax reductions in a number of European countries.

The Volvo S40 1.6 D DRIVe model has a gear-change indicator, informing the driver when to change gears - for a fuel-efficient driving style.

Volvo's IAQS (Interior Air Quality System) effectively reduces the amount of particles, pollen, gases and certain unpleasant odours in the air entering the cabin. In addition, all textiles and leather are certified under ÖKO-TEX 100. This is an international standard, which ensures that fabrics and hides have been thoroughly tested to check for certain allergy-inducing substances and emissions.

Audio and information

Volvo S40 can be equipped with Bluetooth^® - a technology that enables wireless communication. By connecting Volvo's Bluetooth device to the car's audio system and a Bluetooth compatible cellular telephone, easy and practical hands-free phoning is made possible.

Volvo S40 with the High Performance or Premium Sound systems have been supplemented with an USB port, making it easy to attach an iPod^®, or other MP3 players or even a digital camera to the audio system. On the USA market, the High Performance and Premium Sound levels have an HD (digital) radio function as standard. With the HD radio function, the driver and passengers can listen to analogue FM radio channels, although with digital quality. In some European countries the Premium Sound and High Performance audio systems can be supplemented with DAB-radio (Digital Audio Broadcast). This function makes it possible listening to radio broadcasts with CD quality.

The RTI function in the Volvo S40 models is now able to register speed cameras, and has been upgraded on some other areas as well.