Volvo takes the hammer to V40

AFTER doing the hard yards for three years, Volvo’s entry level V40 hatch has been given a pull-through that includes new headlights incorporating the Swedish company’s new visual signature – LED daytime driving lights in the shape of Nordic god Thor’s hammer.

The changes, which also apply to the crossover V40 Cross Country, are expected to make their debut in Australian showrooms in the third quarter of this year.

Although minor, the visual changes help to bring the V40 into line with Volvo’s new styling direction that made its debut on the company’s latest flagship models, the XC90 and forthcoming S90 and V90 twins.

The V40 gets a new-look grille with the more pronounced Volvo iron-mark badge and revised meshes, depending on the variant.

Announcing the facelift, Volvo Car Group senior vice president of sales, marketing and customer service Björn Annwall said the V40 was the best-selling Volvo model in Europe and the second-most popular Volvo model globally.

“With the updates for model year 2017, we make this already very successful model even more attractive to customers in the segment,” he said.

A range of new colours – some taken from newer Volvo models – and fresh interior and alloy wheels are available, along with an optional black headliner for the first time.

The only mechanical change comes in the form of low-rolling resistance tyres that help cut CO2 emissions of the 1.6-litre diesel D2 engine with manual gearbox to 89 grams per kilometre.

The Volvo on Call phone app that allows V40 owners to use their smartphone to operate a range of functions also has been improved, gaining Microsoft Band 2 for voice-control for certain features when using Windows 10-based phones.

Other updates to Volvo On Call include a calendar integration function that connects the owner’s personal calendar to the mobile app allowing it to send calendar appointment destinations directly to the navigation system on request.

Volvo plans to offer the system on up to 10 models this year.

In Australia, the V40 is the brand’s second best-selling model after the XC60 medium SUV.

Last year, Volvo dealers shifted 1145 V40s – up 22.3 per cent on the previous year – along with 371 V40 Cross Countrys.

Overall Volvo car sales in Australia climbed 5.3 per cent, to 4943 units.