Volvo S40

Volvo Cars introduced the first generation Volvo S40 (Saloon) and V40 (Versatility/estate) compact executive cars in 1995. The second generation arrived in 2004, where the new V50 station wagon replaced the V40.

In the summer of 1995 Volvo released the S4/V4 series but had to change the model's name as it conflicted with Audi who had already reserved the "S4" name[citation needed]. The quickly renamed S40 saloon (sedan) and V40 estate (station wagon), manufactured at the NedCar factory in Holland (a pre-Ford joint venture between Volvo and Mitsubishi Motors) and based on a common platform with the Mitsubishi Carisma. The V40, with Drag coefficient of 0.32,[1] was the first whole model to be introduced under the direction of the British designer Peter Horbury, Volvo’s Design Director, [1] and was marketed in Australia, North and South America, and the Far East.[1] The V40 was named the ‘Most Beautiful Estate Car in the World’ at an Italian award ceremony.[1]

In 2001 Volvo updated the 40 Series ("Phase II"), implementing a number of technical improvements, e.g., improved engine management, direct (diesel) fuel injection, extra safety features, larger brake discs, new front suspension and steering, revised rear suspension, larger tires and a widening of the track width. A minor facelift gave larger headlights, more streamlining and larger rear light clusters as well as minor instruments and fascia re-design.

The 40 Series cars were equipped with four-cylinder engines, such as a 1.9 turbo diesel or 1.6 (1588 cc), 1.8 (1731 cc), 2.0T (1948 cc), 1.9 T4 (1855 cc) or 2.0 (1948 cc) fuel-injected gasoline engines all of which are derivatives of the modular whiteblock engine series that started life in the Volvo 960 and carried in both 5 and 6 cyl formats in Volvo's bigger FWD cars. There was also a 1.8 L (1834 cc) Gasoline direct injection engine provided by Mitsubishi as part of the platform sharing between the 40 series and the Carisma.