"Naturally, our goal is that the new S40 should be the safest car in its class, offering the same safety levels as our larger models but within more compact dimensions," stated Hans-Olov Olsson, Volvo Cars president and CEO.

Production will start this fall at the Swedish automaker's Ghent, Belgium facility, with cars arriving in Canadian showrooms by summer 2004. Volvo expects to sell about 70,000 units per year worldwide. The S40 will be followed shortly thereafter by the V50 sportwagon.

Specifications:

• Price Range (est MSRP): $32,000 - $45,000
• Body Type: 4-door sedan
• Layout: front engine, FWD (opt AWD on T5)
• Base Engine (est): 170 hp, 177 lb-ft, 2.4-L, I-5
• Opt Engine (est): 247 hp, 243 lb-ft, 2.3-L, I-5, high-pressure turbo
• Transmission: 5-spd man (opt 5-spd auto with manual mode, 6-spd manual)
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS and EBD
• Curb Weight: N/A
• Fuel Economy (est city/hwy): 10.5 / 7.2 L/100 km
• Warranty (mo/km): 48/80,000 comprehensive
• Competitors: Acura TSX, Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, Cadillac CTS, Jaguar X-Type, Lexus IS 300, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Nissan Maxima, Saab 9-3, VW Passat
• Web Site: www.volvocanada.com