Once upon a time, Volvo built the V40 at the Nedcar plant, alongside the Mitsubishi Carisma. Volvo ended that partnership in 2001, but the Dutch managed to pull one over on Volvo, leaking early pics of their new V40 compact in advance of its Geneva debut.
The V40 will apparently be the first Volvo built on their new modular platform, and will underpin an S40, C40 and XC40 (count on the last one to be the most likely candidate for a spot in the future lineup). Different variants will underpin the “60” and “90” series vehicles as well. The V40 is said to be 2.2 inches shorter than the outgoing V50, making it a foot longer than a Volkswagen Golf. City Safety collision avoidance will also be standard. The Dutch Autoblog article mentions 1.4L and 1.8L engines, but that doesn’t jibe with Volvo’s new modular engine strategy which calls for 500cc per cylinder (and thus a 2.0L 4-cylinder). We’ll see what’s really going on in a couple of weeks.
That is some front over-hang.
Indeed. Looks appalling.
Hahaha, spot on. A Volvo Gremlin!
They should call it the Volvo Proboscis.
Yes. It shouts front wheel drive.
What’s up with all new cars having an obligatory blind spot inducing C pillar?
No kidding, the site lines of this one will be terrible. We recently purchased a v50 for my wife, and one of the best things about it is the nice boxy shape that produces lots of windows and easy breezy site lines. We specifically set out to find a wagon/hatch that didn’t have these terrible pillars and ridiculously high beltlines…..we wouldn’t have been shopping Volvo if this one was around.
I used to travel and overnight in Amsterdam before flying out of Schiphol back to the States, so I know a little bit about the general drug induced debauchery prevalent there.
Dutch Punking usually involves something other than a Volvo, and requires rubber sheets.
And it’s not called Dutch Punking anymore since PETA got involved.
A foot longer than a Golf, you say? It looks like all the extra length was added ahead of the front wheels …
All cars today are trying to look sexy, including wagons trying to look like sport coupes. The are shaped so the doors opens up midway up the roof, so when you open the door you get 20 pounds of snow falling down on the drivers seat. And the rear are completely useless when you try to load a washing macine or other big object. Please give me a 740 wagon or a Caprice wagon!
“Volvo Gets Punk’d By The Dutch”
Indeed, their new car looks like a clog.
Glad the U.S. won’t see that ugly thing on our roads. Not to mention that it is now really a hatchback and no longer a proper wagon.
I’m really hating this long hood/tiny trunk design revival. This looks like a 2012 take on a 1972 Mercury Montego. What a useless car…