The Volvo S40 is a small family car produced by Volvo. It introduced the first generation S40 (Saloon) and V40 (Versatility/estate) cars in 1995. The second generation arrived in 2004, and the wagon's name changed to V50.
In the summer of 1995 Volvo released the S4/F4 series but had to change the model's name as it conflicted with Audi who had already reserved the "S4" name[citation needed]. The quickly renamed S40 saloon (sedan) and V40 (Ferrari objected to F40) estate (station wagon), manufactured at the NedCar factory in Holland (a pre-Ford joint venture between Volvo and Mitsubishi Motors) and based on a common platform with the Mitsubishi Carisma. The V40, with Drag coefficient of 0.32, was the first whole model to be introduced under the direction of the British designer Peter Horbury, Volvo's Design Director, and was marketed in Australia, North and South America, and the Far East. The V40 was named the 'Most Beautiful Estate Car in the World' at an Italian award ceremony.
In 2001 Volvo updated the 40 Series ("Phase II"), implementing a number of technical improvements, e.g., improved engine management, direct (diesel) fuel injection, extra safety features, larger brake discs, new front suspension and steering, revised rear suspension, larger tires and a widening of the track width. A minor facelift gave larger headlights, more streamlining and larger rear light clusters as well as minor instruments and fascia re-design.
The 40 Series cars were equipped with four-cylinder engines, such as a 1.9 turbo diesel or 1.6 (1588 cc), 1.8 (1731 cc, later increased to 1783cc), 2.0T (1948 cc), 1.9 T4 (1855 cc, later increased to 1948cc) or 2.0 (1948 cc) fuel-injected gasoline engines all of which are derivatives of the modular whiteblock engine series that started life in the Volvo 960 and carried in both 5 and 6 cyl formats in Volvo's bigger FWD cars. There was also a 1.8 L (1834 cc) Gasoline direct injection engine provided by Mitsubishi as part of the platform sharing between the 40 series and the Carisma.
The Volvo S40/V40 series was a completely new car from the ground up, with no engines, with the exception of the 1.9 Turbo Diesel engine carried over from the old 400 series.
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