New Models - Volvo S40

Potent turbo-diesel for S40 and V50

Premium: Buyers will have to pay $5000 more for the D5 engine.

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Volvo recharges S40 sedan and V50 wagon ranges with a five-cylinder turbo-diesel

21 March 2007

By MARTON PETTENDY

VOLVO Car Australia is now offering a 2.4-litre five-cylinder “D5” turbo-diesel engine in its S40 sedan and V50 station wagon, claiming segment-leading power and superior performance and value against rival European brands.

Dubbed a performance engine, the D5 produces 132kW at 4000rpm and 350Nm from 1750-3250rpm and enables the S40 to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds – when paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. Combined fuel consumption is 7.0L/100km. An MY08 six-speed manual variant will arrive later in the year.

Pricing starts from $44,950 for the sedan and $47,950 for the wagon – a $5000 premium over the baseline S40 S and V50 S (with a 125kW/230Nm 2.5-litre inline-five petrol engine), which Volvo claims is a result of the extra expense involve in manufacturing the D5 engine.

“As a fuel choice, diesel is showing strong growth specifically in the sub-$50,000 passenger car segment and SUV segment in Australia,” said Volvo Car Australia managing director Alan Desselss. “We see long-term growth as Australians realise the modern diesel engine is efficient, quiet and offers significant driving performance.

“Anyone who drives the nimble S40 D5 will appreciate its enormous torque and in-gear acceleration. Calling it a performance diesel is not an exaggeration.”

Volvo claims both the sedan and wagon offer “superior performance, superior driveability and superior value against European competitors offering smaller, weaker diesel engines”.

“Our diesel strategy is based on the simple understanding that the Australian diesel buyer will not sacrifice performance at the expense of fuel efficiency,” Mr Desselss said. “The D5 engine in S40 and V50 offers the customer class-leading performance and exceptional fuel efficiency.”

The engine also features a self-regenerating “CDPF” (catalyst-coated diesel particulate filter) that is claimed to reduce tailpipe particulates by as much as 90 per cent. Accumulated soot particles captured by the particulate filter are automatically burned off at regular intervals (about every 500km).