It was really an exciting experience to drive a new Volvo S40 along a Qingdao roadway with a gentle sea breeze blowing, listening to soft music and enjoying the drive.
Appearance
Volvo S40 is different from other cars because of its special design, for example, the nearly perfect body proportion and sculptured lines. However, it also has the same character as Volvo S60 and S80 ¨Cthe piano style taillights and V-rear-end design.
The Volvo S 40' s appearance changes as you look at it from different angles. The front is round and smooth but the rear is hearty and robust. And from the side, the car looks like a sleek boat, which has a smooth, round bow, a wide midsection and a narrow stern. As a whole, Volvo S40 is full of raw power and fully aerodynamic.
Getting into the drivers seat, we can see a suspended central console. The high-tech central console is modern yet simple in design. The upper part of the control board operates the sound system and integrated vehicle phone, and the lower part operates the interior climate system. In addition, there is a storage space behind the central console.
The car is very comfortable and well designed. Certain details of the carriage, such as crewel seamed leather, have a Northern European feel¡ªsimple and modern -- just like today's top sports cars.
Ride
With the special cross engine design, the cabin has been moved forward which creates much more interior space. In addition, S 40' s wheels are almost in the four corners of the car body. Such design gives the car a typical sporty appearance, lengthened wheelbases, and a much more spacious interior. The vehicle doors have adopted a particular convex shape instead of the common concave. Therefore, the new design strengthens both sport appearance and the under carriage.
Compare with cars of the same class, we find Volvo S40 has more space for backseat passengers the the way of both leg and shoulder room. And the middle seat in the back is also very spacious.
S40 is well-suited for long-distance driving for its bounty and comfortable seating, which has been designed through human engineering as well as from the advice of doctors. In fact, the seats of Volvo are known to be some of the best car seats in the world. And the sound system of S40 has 8 speakers and a 6-CD changer, providing state of the art acoustics.
Drive
Driving the top model S40 T5 initially, when the test drive began, was a real thrill. S40 has a 5-cylinder, 220 horsepower engine that is very smooth and free of vibration.
When you accelerate to 120 Km/h , you can still feel the great power of S40 as your back is pressed against the seat. Despite the great power, the car also gets great gas mileage (100 kilometers uses only 6.6 liters). Of course, the car also has the core value of protecting environment.
S40 has precision handling and stability due to its hi-tech equipment and STC system. When the car is accelerating, the STC system provides a 40:60 power to weight ratio which insures great stability and handling in all conditions.
Brand
Since July 17 th 2006, when Volvo S40 entered the Chinese market, it has aroused strong attention. The main reason is the car rates highest in China 's value index.
Not only is S40 competitively priced, but also has the luxury features of higher priced cars, including a 8-speaker sound system, bi-xenon headlights, headlight cleaning system, side turning lights, and two-double leather seats.
The price of S40 T5 is 368,000 yuan.
Volvo S40¡®s target market are confident, graceful and sagacious young Chinese executives. It is believed that S40 will become a more competitive car model due to its luxury brand image and positive public feedback it continues to receive,