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Volvo S40 small sedan for a new generation spikes the action
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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PALMDALE, Calif. -- Winding down the narrow Angeles Crest Highway, etched into northern slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County, the prototype for a new generation of the S40 compact-class sedan by Volvo of Sweden slices through each apex in a string of curves at a quick clip yet without tire squeal.
The car, squatting low on 17-inch alloy wheels from a package of sporty paraphernalia, glides through the endless benders in a stable pose with minimal lateral roll, the result of a stiffly braced unibody structure coupled to independent suspension elements at all four posts.
Its steering, crisp but light in touch from a rack and pinion arrangement with electro-hydraulic assistance, communicates well with the driver in feedback for nuances of the road.
Its strength, constantly lurking in the right pedal that links to a straight-five engine with turbo-charged booster, occasionally requires reining through the brake pedal, which activates the four discs and an on-board computer with anti-lock checks.
By Palmdale we land on the floor of the Mojave Desert at a straight-line road where brakes are neglected in favor of a streak of speed -- seventy, eighty, ninety, a hundred, and more.
And finally, following this sequence of mountain curves, dips through desert washes and bee-line flights across the Mojave, we understand: Volvo's new iteration for S40 reveals an aggressive attitude while remaining poised and precise no matter what the speed or conditions of the road.
Turbo-enhanced throttle power and exacting mechanical equipment set up the sporty characteristics for this car, while Volvo's penchant for lacing its products with high-tech safety systems extends even to this small-car class.
Volvo brought the first generation of S40 sedans to America five years ago in search of a new audience perhaps younger and a little less affluent than the traditional buyer of a Volvo car.
The idea behind the 40 series seemed simple enough: Build a car that's smaller in size but still rigged with the kind of equipment found on the larger Volvos, while somehow keeping a lid on prices.
With the new generation for S40, the concept expands to create a car with sport-tinged handling traits.
That's accomplished through the development of a new platform of exceptional rigidity with a broad track and longer wheelbase for stability.
Front track measures 2.5 inches wider than the predecessor and the wheelbase stretches three inches longer.
Suspension, completely independent, carries spring struts in front and a multi-link set in back.
The body looks unmistakably like other Volvo sedans but the package is briefer and broader and taller than the predecessor.
It's organized around a basic wedge-shaped shell with high tail and low tapering nose capped by the boxy chrome grille flashing on the face of all Volvos.
The prow adds curvy corners with wraparound headlamp clusters containing multiple lenses, while a series of subtle creases on hood and flanks forge interesting character lines with bulges above the forward wheelwells like an athlete's muscular shoulders.
A big windshield tips rearward at a rakish angle to set up an arching roofline over the passenger compartment with four side doors and seats inside for five riders.
At the stubby tail, the trunk deck is abbreviated and the corner lamps are exaggerated in the distinctive shape employed on all of Volvo's sedans.
Despite the small-car classification for S40, the cabin does not seem miniature -- it's airy inside with ample room for heads and shoulders and legs to stretch, and there are comfort touches aboard to make life easy when you're aboard plus two extremely comfortable front bucket seats.
In the cockpit the clean and uncluttered layout orients toward the driver with analog instruments and a center stack section that's narrow and, in one of several trim options, faced in shiny metal.
The rear seat splits into two sections and backrests fold down. Also, the back of the right front seat folds to a flat plane.
Occupants are shielded by passive safety devices like air bags positioned ahead, beside and above, and the driver commands active safety tools like the anti-lock brakes and optional stability and traction control to check wheel spin.
To block a whiplash during a rear impact, front seatbacks instantly move rearward to pare the acceleration forces inflicted on the passenger's back and neck.
Volvo outfits the new S40 with two different treatments for an in-line five-cylinder powertrain.
Entry edition is the S40 2.4i toting a new version of the naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter five.
It develops 168 hp at 6000 rpm plus torque of 166 lb-ft at 4400 rpm.
Transmission is either a five-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic with Geartronic manual shift mode.
The S40 T5 edition gets Volvo's 2.5-liter low-pressure turbo five-pack plant with optional six-speed manual shifter or the five-speed Geartronic automatic.
This version climbs to 218 hp at 5000 rpm with 236 lb-ft of torque at 4800 rpm.
S40 T5 also scores an optional new all-wheel-drive (AWD) rendition using the electro-hydraulic Haldex equipment deployed in other Volvo AWD cars.
The cars come with an extensive list of standard equipment, but still there are options in package clusters.
A premium package applies leather hides to seat surfaces and installs a power moonroof, electronic climate controls, audio toggles on the steering wheel and wood inlays for dash and doors.
The sport package adds those 17-inch sport wheels, plus a dynamic suspension system, larger brakes and foglamps.
A climate package has rain sensors, heated front seats, headlamp washers and a road friction detection system, while the audio package brings a premium sound kit.
Volvo pitches S40 at price points beginning at $24,190 for the 2.4i and $26,990 for T5, plus a destination charge of $685.
The premium package lists for $2,295, the convenience group is $490, with the sport package set at $750, climate group for $625 and the additional audio gear is $895.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2005 VOLVO S40 Specs |
| Description: |
Compact sports sedan |
| Model Options: |
Compact sports sedan |
| Wheelbase: |
103.9 inches |
| Overall Length: |
175.9 inches |
| Engine Size: |
2.4: DOHC 2.4-L I5, T5: DOHC 2.5-L I5 LP-Turbo |
| Transmission: |
2.4: Auto/5/Geartronic/AW55-51 Manual/5/M56h, T5: Auto/5/Geartronic/AW55-51 Manual/6/M66W |
| Drive: |
2.4: Front, T5: Front opt. AWD/Haldex |
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc, ABS/EBD/EBA opt. STC/DSTC |
| Airbags: |
2 (front) plus 2(side) plus 4(side curtain) |
| Gas Mileage: |
2.4 A/4: 25/30 mpg, T5 A/4: 25/31 mpg |
| Price: |
2.4i A/4: $24,190, T5 A/4: $26,990 |
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