First look: Volvo’s new load lugger debuts

VOLVO has chosen the relatively low key Bologna motor show in Italy to debut the V50, the station wagon version of the new S40 sedan.

As per Volvo's new nomenclature, the sedan and wagon of the same family group get different numbers as model designations. The bigger S60 and V70 are another example of the same idea.

The V50 will arrive in Australia in the third quarter of 2004, just months after the sedan, with pricing expected to climb up to and beyond $50,000.

Three model lines will be released in Australia. Two will use the 125kW naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre five-cylinder engine while the higher performance T5 variant will use the 162kW turbocharged 2.5-litre engine.

The T5 also gets the six-speed manual gearbox developed for the Volvo S60 R and V70 R. The naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre engine is accompanied by a new five-speed manual.

A five-speed automatic transmission (the same as that used in the larger Volvo models) with an adaptive gear-changing pattern will also be available across the V50 range.

The V50 is slightly shorter (2mm) than its predecessor, the V40, but is larger in every other respect, being 54mm wider, 27mm taller and a massive 78mm longer in the wheelbase. Front track is up 63mm and rear track 57mm.

Underpinning the V50 and S40 is the new Ford family C1 platform, also used by the Mazda3 and - soon - the new generation Focus. The platform is all-wheel drive capable, lending credence to the theory that Volvo will soon launch an all-paw XC rival for the likes of the BMW X3 and Land Rover Freelander.

"The emphasis has been placed on attractive design and a sense of sportiness, with a ‘bonus’ in the form of practical details and extra luggage space," said Volvo Cars’ president and CEO Hans-Olov Olsson.

He said the design language and the equipment level in the new Volvo V50 took a a step upward – toward the larger V70.

"The Volvo V50 is smaller (than V70), but it still offers customers the properties of a large car in a compact format. Combining exciting design and exceptional road manners will make the V50 an extremely powerful challenger in this segment."While the front-end design of the V50 is very similar to the S40 and the other recent releases from the Swedish car company, Volvo is claiming an interior breakthrough thanks to a slim, free-floating centre stack which links the tunnel console with the instrument panel. This feature first appeared on the S40.

The V50 shares the same type of interior safety system as that found on the larger Volvo models, including WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) with side-impact airbags and inflatable curtains.

Both rear outer seats are equipped with integrated child booster cushions for children older than three years.

The body of the new V50 is 34 per cent stiffer and the suspension is independent all round, with spring struts at the front and a multi-link system at the rear. The rear suspension also provides a certain degree of passive steering. The V50 comes standard with 16-inch wheels, while 17 and 18-inch wheels are optional.

Depending on model specification, the V50 comes with STC (Stability and Traction Control) anti-spin system and DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control), which corrects the car if it displays any tendency to skid. The V50 also has ABS brakes including EBA (Emergency Brake Assistance).

Brand new is IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System), a standard safety and information system. First shown in the all-new Volvo S40, IDIS is influenced by fighter aircraft technology. The system helps the driver to avoid being distracted while driving.

In demanding situations, such as overtaking or braking, signals from the integrated GSM telephone and certain peripheral information are delayed until the driving situation is calmer. The system knows this by monitoring the driver's steering and braking inputs.