streak
12-22-2008, 06:59 AM
Well, there was Abba with all its glamour and melodies. Then there is Volvo. The Swede marque may not have the flamboyance of the music four¬some or of the German armada comprising the likes of BMW, Mercedes Benz and Audi, but the Volvo S40 costs less and offers plenty of refinement, comfort and continues to be the one of the safest cars in the world. The sedan makes a statement of understated class that makes people look up and take notice of it.
The S40 is a cocktail of premi¬um badges and value-for-money features. The saloon has a stylish design and a quality feel compa¬rable with the likes of Ford and Volkswagen. At the same time, it promises the prestige of Audi or BMW. The Volvo model has been lightly reshaped from the front and rearto create a more refined look. The changes made to the front grille and rear bumper make the car look more upscale. The new sedan maintains a clean, simple design that retains the brand's traditional styling cues without undue futurism.
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Apart from the new Nordic Light Oak trim, the ultra-slim centre con¬sole adorned in faux metal, real aluminium or an iMac-like white finish, the S40 has more than good looks going for it. The console features controls that are easy and simple to use and the materials used are all premium class. A handful of brushed aluminium touches spruces up the cabin.
When it comes to safety there is no other car company that ups the ante like Volvo does. Antilock disc brakes, traction control and stability control are all standard in the S40. It also has front-seat side airbags and full-length head curtain airbags, along with whip¬lash-reducing head restraints in all outboard positions.
For starters we expect the 1.6-litre petrol engine, lOObhp under the bonnet, to make its way to the Indian market. It's a refined engine that remains quiet at high revs. Expect the low¬capacity engine to be frugal. The S40 is no sports saloon, although it performs surprisingly well. The petrol unit is quick enough to keep up with the traffic flow.
The S40 is a cocktail of premi¬um badges and value-for-money features. The saloon has a stylish design and a quality feel compa¬rable with the likes of Ford and Volkswagen. At the same time, it promises the prestige of Audi or BMW. The Volvo model has been lightly reshaped from the front and rearto create a more refined look. The changes made to the front grille and rear bumper make the car look more upscale. The new sedan maintains a clean, simple design that retains the brand's traditional styling cues without undue futurism.
94
Apart from the new Nordic Light Oak trim, the ultra-slim centre con¬sole adorned in faux metal, real aluminium or an iMac-like white finish, the S40 has more than good looks going for it. The console features controls that are easy and simple to use and the materials used are all premium class. A handful of brushed aluminium touches spruces up the cabin.
When it comes to safety there is no other car company that ups the ante like Volvo does. Antilock disc brakes, traction control and stability control are all standard in the S40. It also has front-seat side airbags and full-length head curtain airbags, along with whip¬lash-reducing head restraints in all outboard positions.
For starters we expect the 1.6-litre petrol engine, lOObhp under the bonnet, to make its way to the Indian market. It's a refined engine that remains quiet at high revs. Expect the low¬capacity engine to be frugal. The S40 is no sports saloon, although it performs surprisingly well. The petrol unit is quick enough to keep up with the traffic flow.