We present the first image of Volvo's new estate, the V40. Premium C-segment is becoming more popular than ever! No brand wants to give ground in one of the most selling segments in Europe, and which is now starting to spark interest on the other side of the Atlantic as well. I speak obviously of the United States.
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| Photo Teaser of the new V40 |
The starting point for this dispute was given by BMW with the arrival of the renewed Serie 1, then it was Audi's turn to blurt out images of the new A3 in tests, and don't forget about the reformulated Mercedes Class A that will appear in 2012. And now also Volvo, which gained new impetus to attack the C-segment through the development of what seems to be a serious competitor to the German references: the new V40.
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| Volvo's latest creations have been guided by good taste |
But talking about the “whys” of this new model – which will coexist side-by-side with the current C30 – both the specialized press and buyers have always recognized that the Volvo C30 is a product full of qualities, but with some serious shortcomings . The coupé shape limits access, and the habitability of the rear seats is not the best. Not to mention other fields, these are items where the C30 loses out to the competition, a lot. These were the reasons that led Volvo to move towards this project. Besides, the C30 was never particularly comfortable in any segment. If in segment C, it can be considered a car shy compared to the competition, in segment B, in turn, it is clearly too big compared to rivals, as well as too expensive...
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| V40 cloaked in testing |
To combat this gap in the range, Volvo is developing a new model based on the super-stylish Volvo V60 platform. A compact model that will compete in the market with arguments that until now the Volvo C30 did not have. I'm talking in particular about space, a bolder behavior and a more premium image. All of this – as is the brand's custom – in an extremely tasteful bodywork format.
The images we now present to you are of the new model being tested in Sweden and reveal little or nothing. Information is still scarce, but several specialty websites claim that the new V40 will be on the market as of the second half of 2012. As for the engines, everything indicates that they should be similar to those found in the C30 range.
But I confess that after having been private for a week with a Volvo V60 D5, and driving an old Volvo V40 every day, I am looking forward to this new V40.
If you are also one of those who feared for Volvo when he learned that Ford was going to sell the Swedish brand to a Chinese-owned consortium, Geely, join us because we are too. Or rather, we were… luckily time has removed any doubts about the future of the Swedish brand. It can be seen that the brand's new owners are clearly committed to the recovery of Volvo and, above all, to the maintenance of its values.
The brand has not lost its character, and quite the contrary, it continues to be “Volvo” in the fields we are used to and is simultaneously more “Volvo” also in fields hitherto unknown.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of Saab, which does not have such a bright future in front of it.
Text: Guilherme Ferreira da Costa