Volvo V40 R-Design: hotter hatch to headline local line-up

By David Zalstein | September 13th, 2012

FIND DEALS

The Volvo V40 R-Design has been revealed ahead of its official unveiling at the 2012 Paris motor show at the end of this month.

The all-new Volvo V40 R-Design follows the tradition of sports-tweaked Volvos, bringing with it details such as a silk metal-framed high-gloss grille, restyled front bumper, daytime running lights, rear diffuser, twin exhaust pipes and five-spoke diamond-cut 17-inch wheels with optional 18-inch wheels also available.

The interior benefits from R-Design-embroidered partial leather seats, sports steering wheel, sports pedals and unique aluminium inlays.

The Volvo V40’s interactive thin film transistor (TFT) crystal instrument display that allows drivers to switch between three different designs – Elegance, Eco and Performance – again features in the V40 R-Design, however, all modes use the same radiant blue colour unique to the R-Design.

An additional R-Design Lux pack sees embossed full leather upholstery, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, keyless start and active bending xenon headlights that alter their trajectory to see further around corners.

Across Europe the V40 R-Design carries over all available V40 engines, from the efficiency-focused 84kW/270Nm D2 diesel to the performance-orientated T5 turbo, with its 187kW and 400Nm, but Australian-specification cars will only house the T5 option.

An optional ‘Sport’ chassis upgrade equates to 10mm lower springs, firmer spring and shock absorber settings, and thicker anti-roll bars.

Available in a choice of seven colours including the classic R-Design Rebel Blue, the Volvo V40 R-Design will top the V40 range in Australia when the model is launched early in 2013.

Volvo Car Corporation says it expects around 10 per cent of all V40 buyers worldwide will choose the R-Design version.

Click on the Photos tab for more images.

Sponsored Ads

Basil Exposition

Nice, but probably over priced in Oz. given Volvos poor reliability reputation I won’t be paying over the odds for a Volvo.
- tonyW
  
  What poor reliability reputation? In a total of nearly 11 years of total Volvo ownership with my last 3 Volvo, I have had a grand total of 2 minor issues, both fixed under warranty. But I do agree the key issue will be pricing.
- Haplesspossum
  
  I thought Volvos had a great reputation for reliability. This car looks pretty stunning; a good alternative to the Golf.
- Joe
  
  ….Poor reliability……what planet have you been on!!!!!!……Volvo is still the ONLY car maker where 94% of all Volvo’s EVER made are still on the road…….please find out some facts first.
  - Basil Exposition
    
    I’m afraid my experiences are the polar opposite.
    - matt
      
      seems to be a common trend with you baz.
- Peter
  
  hmmm, I’ve had a s40 (pre 04 version), s40T5, c70T5, s60R, and second s40T5. I also had a 760GLE but that was 20 odd years ago and I dont like to think about it. The remainder of the cars have been brilliant. The first s40T5 had a few software issues, the second has had an issue with the ABS magnetising or something twice in 2 years. Aside from that they have been pretty much trouble free. I think that it would be misguided to suggest that volvos have a poor reliability reputation, in act their reputation is generally that you couldnt kill them if you wanted to.
- Legnab
  
  GEE skippy your way off target , very reliable .
- Ajeans
  
  Honestly I am so sick and tired of people on this website that say every single European car is unreliable. Every time there is a story on VW, Volvo, CITREON, Peugeot and range rover- the same thing. Seriously- has anybody else had enough?
  
  There is a world outside of Holden and ford!
  - Legnab
    
    WELL said Ajeans agree 100% .
  - Zaccy16
    
    Well said! especially VW
  - Luke Brinsmead
    
    It’s not the Holden and Ford camps; their reliability isn’t out of this world, it’s the Toyota camp who can bag about their cars’ reliability.
    
    But I agree with you, reliability isn’t everything, especially if we’re talking about single digit differences in percentage fault rates. But there are some European cars that arn’t worth there trouble, like old Renault Meganes :-/
    - AJeans
      
      In the last 10 years, I owned a Mini (broke down twice in the two years I had it), Renault Megane (Never had a problem), BMW320 (broke down once) Fiat Punto (no problems) and Citroen DS3 and C5 (again perfect)
      
      I’ve heard plenty of stories of people who have had Japanese and Australian cars that have had problems.
      
      Seriously people enough.
      
      WE GET IT!!! WE ARE OVER IT! CONCENTRATE ON WHAT THE WRITER HAS FOCUSED ON IN HIS STORY!
      
      WHEN THERE IS A VOLVO STORY – FOCUS ON VOLVO.
      WHEN THERE IS A VW STORY- FOCUS ON VW.
      WHEN THERE IS A HOLDEN STORY FOCUS ON HOLDEN ETC.ETC…
      
      EVERY MAKE OF CARS HAVE RELIABILITY ISSUES.
      
      Back to the Volvo, really love the look. Volvo’s are really heaturners now. I would really consider this about 6-12month after it comes out (prices drop) – no doubt there will be little negotiation when they do come out.
  - Basil Exposition
    
    I don’t think much of GM or Ford either… Assumptions, assumptions.
- 400000km volvo
  
  What problems are those? Have some spine and elaborate.
- UMWHAT
  
  you guys know you’re getting trolled right?
- Spectra
  
  And these days, who wants a 5 cylinder engine? It’s 6 cylinder registration cost and there are better 4 cylinder engine cars available.
gt86.com.au

I think this car is Awesome!! way to go volvo..
Pauly

Looks great. But Volvo Australia will be asking Golf R/ STI/ EVO Money for this thing.

No way in hell it will be priced between $37K – $42K like most hot hatches.
- SM
  
  Exactly – if it was priced competitively I would definitely consider getting one, but sadly that won’t be the case.
- Xristo303
  
  187 kw & 400 nm torque, I dont see a problem If this priced similar to the Golf R. Will probably come with more standard features than the golf R.
  - JooberJCW
    
    Agree, if its comparable in quality performance and equipment why not?
Andrew Sherwood

Every model they make is better than the one before as it should be.
Zaccy16

The only Volvo i would like to buy, very nice, a good alternative to the golf!
Wile E Coyote

Its great that Volvo’s new Chinese owners have not messed with it
Jober As A Sudge

It’s no 850 T-5 R…but it ain’t half bad I’m liking Volvo’s newer sports models
- JoeR_AUS
  
  No but it has the 5 cylinder engine and this might be the last chance to get it before Volvo go 4 cylinder only.
Dudeface

Very very nice looking, both inside and out. Go Volvo! Looks like an update of the B5254T 2.5L 5-pot, the same as my Focus XR5. (The V40 has the B5254T12 to be exact, if anyone is interested). Really hope they offer this at a decent price, so when it comes time to trade in the XR5, I can still get something with that 5-pot growl!
Edward

All the sudden i want a Volvo, but unfortunately the pricing will be an issue for me too. Especially with cars like the 86 and Veloster bringing a lot of value to the market. At least with the Volvo you kinda get what you pay for…
Philthy

Is this front or all wheel drive?
- tonyW
  
  Not such a bad question and the subject of some on-going discussion on Volvo forums. The standard V40 is FWD only. However we do know there is also going to be released an XC40 version of the V40 with slightly jacked-up height and Volvo’s Haldex AWD. There is some suggestion that the yet-to-be-released T5 engined version of the V40 may also be AWD. However whether such a version makes it to Australia may be another question.
- Christos Boukogiannis
  
  From what ive read, this will be front wheel drive. There is a polestar edition being rumoured which will be AWD and slightly over 200kw to compete against the audi s3 etc.
Anthony

Don’t worry about it being fwd. The current C30 rdesign polestar 2012 with 187kw and 375nm has no torque steer issues. It even seems to pack more power when running on shell vpower. In automatic second gear it goes better than 317 hsv maloo auto and audi tt.
Anthony

Don’t worry about it being fwd. The current C30 rdesign polestar 2012 with 187kw and 375nm has no torque steer issues. It even seems to pack more power when running on shell vpower. In automatic second gear it goes better than 317 hsv maloo auto and audi tt.