The new 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.
More than 2,000 Hungarian car owners revealed their opinion about their own cars and about other brands in the most comprehensive car-survey of Hungary in 2006. According to the survey in average Volvo owners are the most satisfied with their cars among Hungarian car users.
The two-litre turbodiesel version of the Volvo C30, S40 and V50 is now also available with a fully-automatic transmission. This new Powershift transmission is a six-speed unit and it significantly cuts fuel consumption compared with a conventional automatic transmission.
Volvo C70, S40, and C30 are top rated in AutoPacific's 2008 Ideal Vehicle Awards.The automotive research and consulting firm AutoPacific announced yesterday its annual Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA), of which three category winners were Volvos.
The S40 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, Volvo offered the same comfort and safety levels in compact size as the drivers of the larger 850 had already enjoyed for some years.