VOLVO 40/50-series (1995-2012)
Generation I (1995 – 2003)
The S40 and V40 was the result of a joint-venture between Volvo Cars and Mitsubishi; the two companies built their own series of cars on a common technical platform side by side in the Dutch NedCar plant. With the S40 and V40, Volvo offered the same comfort and safety levels in compact size as the drivers of the larger 850 had already enjoyed for some years.
Soon, the two original versions (with 1.8 and 2.0 litre engines) were supplemented with new economic and exciting models. There was a fuel-thrifty turbodiesel version as well as a high-performance T4 (200 bhp) performance model, which was a worthy successor to classic performance Volvos like the PV544 Sport and the 240 Turbo.
The S40 also became a spectacular racing car which notched up its most remarkable success when Rickard Rydell won the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in his S40 in 1998.
In 2000, the S40 was successfully introduced in North America.
A new generation came to the market in 2003 with the estate version now badged V50.
MODEL SPECIFICATIONS
Model: S40, V40
Produced: 776,401 (S40: 352,910, V40: 423,491)
Body: 4-door saloon, 5-door estate
Engine: 4-cylinder in-line DOHC 1,587 1,948 cc, and 4-cylinder in-line OHC 1,870 cc turbo diesel
Transmission: 5-speed manual, 4- or 5-speed automatic.
Generation II (2003 – 2012)
The new generation S40 and V50 was presented in 2003 as model year 2004. The safety level was very high and the models received 5 stars in the Euro NCAP test. S40 was also the first car from Volvo with a fuel consumption below 5 litres per 100 km
MODEL SPECIFICATIONS
Model: S40, V50
Produced: 937,891 (S40: 418,884, V50: 519,007
Body: 4-door saloon, 5-door estate
Engines: 4-cylinder in-line DOHC 1.6 – 2.5 litres, 100 – 230 hp. Diesel: 1.6 – 2.4 litres, 115 – 180 hp.
Transmission: 5 or 6 speed manual, 5 or 6 stage automatic.
