Volvo V40 to take on Germans

Small car models from Volvo are to be dropped as the company declares it is time to take on the Germans. "The Germans are in our sights,'' says Volvo vehicle line director Hakan Abrahamsson at the launch of the V40 hatchback.

"We are aiming at the premium Audi and Mercedes-Benz hatchbacks but we think we will have better equipment and more value. We will also have the best fuel consumption in  the class - 3.6 litres/100km from our 110kW turbo-diesel version. That's equivalent to 94 grams of CO2 per kilometre and to my knowledge, it's best in class.''

The Volkswagen Golf is also considered a rival but he says the V40 "is better'' than the BMW 1-Series. The V40 hatchback - which starts production in May, the same time as it stops making the S40 and V50 - may also be developed into a small SUV and even a sedan.

Mr Abrahamsson hasn't ruled either out. "We have invested heavily in the platform,'' he says. "That's because we are on our own. We have no association with other car makers since we split from Ford. "So we have to consider economies of scale.''

However, Mr Abrahamsson says it would be expensive to engineer the platform as an all-wheel drive. "The hatchback market is very strong and it suits the front-wheel drive design because it's light and that makes it light on fuel.''

The V40 is the result of an intense four-year program in design and engineering. It is also the result of design and lifestyle clinics, including long-term collaboration with a group of 25 young people in London.

The V40 will challenge the competition in the premium hatchback class with sharpened features and characteristics from larger models in the Volvo range wrapped in a sleek, compact package.

First impressions are of a modern, expressive car with a Scandinavian luxury look and feel, a high-quality aura and meticulous attention to detail. The new, fully graphic instrument cluster with personalised layout and information should enhance the driving experience. Volvo says V40 boasts class-leading driving dynamics thanks to focused attention to a number of vital areas.

The chassis is designed to offer the agile, connected experience that creates driving pleasure. Engine variants available in V40 will include everything from Volvo's first diesel with CO2 emissions of 94 g/km to the turbocharged T5 petrol engine with 187kW and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds. All models will feature start-stop and braking energy regeneration, no matter whether they are fitted with a manual or automatic gearbox.

V40 features a class-leading safety and driver support package, including Volvo's groundbreaking Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake and several other new features. Among the new features are a world-first pedestrian airbag, Lane Keeping Aid with auto steering, and an ingenious Park Assist Pilot that makes parallel parking easy.

The City Safety low-speed collision avoidance system has been further developed and it now operates at speeds up to 50 km/h.

Volvo says the new V40 is the most intelligent and safe Volvo model so far. All its features are designed around the driver, helping him or her stay alert and well informed to avoid collisions and dangerous situations.

Sales target internationally is a conservative 90,000 units with 85 per cent of the total volume going to European customers. It will be built in Volvo Car Corporation's plant in Ghent, Belgium.