I swear this is true. This IS the all new Volvo S40.

IIt has to be pretty sad when you can't even tell a model from the other. It just looks so close to the other Volvos, the S60 and S80. They are now, lik emany others before them, adopting the Mercedes idea of the car as a "sausage". All cars within the range have the same design, the only difference is the size.

They just gave up on trying to give each model its own personality. But at least, Ford is not screwing up Volvo like GM is doing with Saab. The S40 still is a Volvo. Even if its platform is shared with the Mazda3 and the next Focus.

The engines are still Volvo. Although a choice of 4 cilynders and diesels will be available in Europe, it looks lik ethe US will only get the top of the line 5 cilynder units. The same engines are being used in the S60.

The new S40 is shorter, but taller and wider than the previous Mitsubishi based S40. But it is about as roomy as the S60. Which doesn't make any sence...

Why would you get the more expensive S60, when the cheaper S40 uses the same engines, and has about the same room inside???

But the true treasure of this car is the interior design. It is the 1st production car to have a thin console. And it looks great. It makes the whole interior of this car look like something classy, special and difernent.

And it will be used in other Volvo models in the future.

We have to congratulate Ford, for respecting Volvo. (as well as Jaguar and Mazda). The S40 might not have an original design, but it looks like a true Volvo. A refreshing though when at the same time, GM is killing Saab by rebadging a Chevy truck based SUV as the Saab 9.7, and putting a Saab front end to a Subaru and calling it the 9.2...