2003 Volvo S40 T4 - Now, to a greater extent than than ever, the lines of automotive blueprint as well as technology scientific discipline are start out to blur. American sedans, in i trial noted for their crudeness are gaining European sophistication; Korean reliability as well as durability is heading good into argument alongside the Japanese; the British, for all their pride on identity is starting to larn a chip Teutonic. Even the serenity Scandinavian acre of Sweden isn’t spared from this inevitable global trend, as well as the novel Volvo S40 T4 tin attest to this.
Once content alongside designing cars which tin hold out when slammed into a moose as well as live surefooted during freak hailstorms, Volvo has turned its sights into something that’s sure enough to a greater extent than evident to anybody exterior the fridged realm of the Artic: downright performance. Without compromising the brand’s amount values (safety, durability as well as build), the S40 T4 has been redesigned from the the world upward to produce all of the master copy design’s flaws as well as hence some.
Though the underpinnings are yet based off the Mitsubishi Carisma, Volvo engineers heavily modified it. The results are zippo brusk of extraordinary. The MacPherson Strut / Independent Multi-Link set-up furnish a practiced combination of twisty-bits excitement as well as long-distance touring comfort. The intermission is firm, but supple providing practiced communication alongside the road. In addition, there’s tremendous grip, especially through the tighter corners thank y'all to the T4’s relatively low-ratio 205/50 ZR xvi tires.
That said in that location are yet some indications that Pb to the car’s ancient origins. First is the means the intermission absorbs precipitous bumps such every bit humps. The jar is yet really discontenting—similar to the previous generation Mitsubishi Lancer. In addition, though the steering is properly weighed as well as balanced, the T4 doesn’t react every bit lightning quick every bit whatsoever from the BMW 3-series line-up.
The T4 does receive got i ace upward its sleeve that puts it higher upward anything: a high-pressure, high-output turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. This beauty of a monster generates an fifty-fifty 200 bhp at 5,500 rpm as well as 300 Nm of torque from 2,500 rpm to 4,000 rpm. Putting things into perspective, these figures are about the US-version Subaru Impreza WRX (227bhp, 292 Nm)—and the T4 weighs 85 kilograms less!
Ultimately, this ‘wolf-in-sheep’s clothing’ blueprint of the T4 generates the widest smiles as well as greatest levels of adrenaline rush. Though the engine tin exclusively live mated to a five-speed automatic, which tin give a fair percentage of shift shocks, it tin sprint to 100 km/h inward less than 8 seconds based on our chronograph-timed blasts.
The compactness of the S40’s exterior e'er leads to the temptation that other motorists may start out belittling the car’s abilities, jinking left to overtake fifty-fifty if you’re running at a fairly fast pace. Option A, is of course, to tolerate this demeanour as well as live relegated to staring at the offending car’s taillights. Option B is: flex correct foot, boost arrives, tachometer spins as well as from existence score alongside your side mirror, that pesky auto volition all of a precipitous live inward your side mirror, a tiny, distant speck disappearing from view: no waiting necessary. In representative the offending auto catches upward as well as wishes to confirm the experiment, repeat until desired results. This auto goes from twoscore to 160 km/h on brusk stretches of highway alongside nonchalant ease.
The forced air-induction go non exclusively plant wonders for the Volvos’ straight-line performance, but it helps the might found breathe easily inward high height places such every bit Tagaytay City. The T4 finds piffling difficultly inward the climb, using minor amounts of revs every bit compared to high-revving engines which quest a practiced trashing.
The relaxed nature of the turbocharged inline-4 every bit good plant wonders for the T4’s fuel mileage figures. Despite continuously engaging the highly addictive turbocharger, it yet manages to render 8.6 km/L during the duration of the weekend drive. However, it’s worth noting that mileage has a price: it requires a diet of high-octane unleaded (at to the lowest degree 95 as well as up), as well as that tin strength out the pocket.
Such amazing might has been known to corrupt obedient front-wheel drive chassis. Amazingly, the T40 does a practiced chore of putting everything onto the pavement. The auto is equipped alongside Dynamic Stability Assistance (DSA)—that’s traction command to y'all as well as me. Launch is drama-free, perchance fifty-fifty underwhelming. At depression revs, the engine feels similar to the Ford Expedition’s Triton V8. However, when the boost reaches generous levels, as well as the gearbox shifts to second, the tires scrabble for travelling steal as well as the auto comes alive. With the DSA switched on, mild chirps are all that are heard. There are no unwanted tugs of the wheels—directional stability is e'er acquaint inward the T4.
The T4’s bully might is concealed yesteryear its mundane street clothes, peculiarly inward the examination car’s mild Bamboo Green paint. The 40-series is the patently Jane of the family, designed earlier Peter Horbury got his mitts on the line-up as well as started the svelte-Swede winning streak that Volvo’s been hitting lately. The silhouette as well as the bring upward of the S40 as well as V40 are completely generic. Remove the badges as well as the grille, as well as y'all tin slap well-nigh whatsoever Asian produce on this car. The front end though has been looking a chip meaner since 2002, thank y'all to quad-projector headlamps, as well as inward the representative of the T4, surrounded yesteryear dark bezels. This is the truthful Q-ship: no airdams, no spoiler or side skirts—just the oval tailpipe as well as the T4 badge.
Despite Volvo’s penchant to halt upward every bit identify unit of measurement transports, the T4, similar the ease of the S40 line, isn’t built for a large family. A to a greater extent than appropriate description would live ‘personal transport’, since exclusively minor children truthful cat jibe inward the bring upward bench. In fact, slide the front end seats all the means aft as well as the people at the bring upward volition literally halt upward alongside no articulatio genus room.
However, the interior isn’t every bit claustrophobic every bit the BMW—thanks largely to the Volvo’s straight-edged interior blueprint compared to the 3’s concave cockpit. Headroom is understandably express because of the touchstone Luna roof, but the overall infinite is yet quite generous for the front end passengers. Seat support, though non precisely sporty, is snug as well as provides fantabulous lateral support, perfect for long-distance travels or long waits inward metropolis traffic. The driving topographic point as well as ergonomics are fantabulous though, alongside all major controls inside arm’s length. Sitting topographic point is quite depression though—so depression inward fact, that T4 drivers volition receive got to live content inward non existence able to stare a Mercedes-Benz C-class driver eye-to-eye. This tin live discontenting fifty-fifty to a greater extent than when placed beside a Chevrolet Suburban.
The interior is every bit mutual frigidness as well as stoic every bit a wintertime inward Iceland. Though in that location are some forest planks hither as well as there, it looks incongruous as well as out of identify beside the matte dark plastics as well as leather seats. However, the fittings experience indestructible as well as crisp to the touch, patch the leather sure enough exudes class—something that this auto mostly as.
Given its abilities as well as its badge, you’d live expecting that the T4 would fetch quite a amount of money. Not so, compared to its direct 2.2 million-peso rival, the T4 solidly undercuts the 318i Executive at 1.845 million. It fifty-fifty manages to halt upward every bit a improve value than its functioning rival, the Subaru Impreza WRX, which is priced at 2.1 million.
For those who want a chip of animosity but hold some cast as well as some head-snapping performance, the 200-bhp T4 is definitely the best choice. However, for the presently to live parents out there, Volvo is offering a to a greater extent than practical solution: the V40 T4. At only 50 grand more, this infant offers the same score of functioning inward an estate shell.
Car Review - 2003 Volvo S40 T4 Features & Specifications
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