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Category: Test drive

Volvo S40 / V40. SWEDISH ATHLETE

2024

Video: Volvo S40 / V40. SWEDISH ATHLETE

Video: Volvo S40 / V40. SWEDISH ATHLETE
Video: Детальный обзор Volvo S40/V40 2024, March
Volvo S40 / V40. SWEDISH ATHLETE
Volvo S40 / V40. SWEDISH ATHLETE
Anonim

PRESENTATION

"SPORTSMAN" IN SWEDISH

Giving a family car sports features is not so easy, unless, of course, we are talking only about external attributes - spoilers, door sills and other “hitch”. The most difficult thing is to maintain an acceptable balance between sportiness and practicality. An ordinary driver who owns a temperamental car should not experience inconvenience. In addition to outstanding driving qualities, give him ease of control, a voluminous trunk, high passive safety, a considerable resource of units and other valuable properties. A similar strategy meets the new Volvo models with the T4 index - the fastest cars in the S40 / V40 family.

Vadim KRYUCHOV

Photo by the author and Volvo

In fairness, I note - the usual S40 sedans and V40 station wagons have a rather bright appearance, not without devoid of sports features. Their design is quite modern - swift lines, wedge-shaped body shape. To highlight the S40 / V40-T4, only a few touches have been added. These cars are equipped with "exclusive" 16-inch alloy wheels with 205 / 50ZR16 tires. Headlamps are also new - composite two-section, with smooth lenses without any pattern. The wide oval exhaust pipe completes the picture. A peculiar hint of a powerful engine that should "breathe" freely.

However, the main advantages of the T4 model are not outside, but inside. Judging by the manufacturer’s data, she has a non-conventional motor: the “four” with a working volume of 1855 cm3 with a turbocharger is capable of developing 200 hp. and a torque of 300 N.m in the range from 2400 to 3600 rpm. Is it a lot or a little? For clarity, compare the S40-T4 with a large "Volvo 850 -T5" equipped with a 2.3-liter five-cylinder power unit with 225 hp. Specific (with a liter of working volume) moment - 162 N.m / l at T4 against 130 N.m / l at T5. I hope you do not need to comment on these numbers. Having tried the car on the go, I can confirm - the engine is really good. Impressive is not only the acceleration dynamics and maximum speed. He’s frisky, but not sharp - it pulls almost from idle and, most importantly, does not suffer from a pronounced “pick-up” at medium speeds, which is typical of many other turbo-charged units. But the soundtrack is clearly designed for a lover of fast driving. It is worth turning the key in the ignition, as the rumor begins to caress hard and quite loud rumble. With an increase in speed, it intensifies, but does not turn into an annoying noise. Everything is good in moderation, even racing accompaniment. I think that not everyone will want the roar of a throaty “combat” engine to block the sound of a radio tape recorder (and it is in Volvo, and not bad).

Sports style usually involves only one type of transmission. "Volvo S40 / V40-T4" is equipped only with a manual transmission from the older model range S70 / V70. This is a five-speed, fully synchronized (including reverse) gearbox with wire rope for soft and clear shifting.

The chassis of T4 sedans and station wagons has been thoroughly redesigned. Steel is harder than springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bar. To improve handling, the longitudinal angle of inclination of the axis of rotation of the wheels is increased. In addition, changes were made to the rack and pinion steering and power steering. The T4 models are equipped with a “speaker” suspension as standard, with a “sport” option on request (it is even tougher and the ground clearance is 20 mm lower) or “comfort”. How did the news affect the behavior of the car?

Compared to the conventional S40 / V40, the suspension travel of the temperamental T4 has become shorter, rolls in corners have decreased, and steering sensitivity has increased. Despite the stiffer shock absorbers and springs, the car remained comfortable. Yes, it shakes a little harder on bumps, but shakes less on a gentle wave. At the same time, the road keeps excellent, turns confidently. In short, the chassis "speaker" - the very successful compromise between sportiness and power. But nothing comes in vain - the car has become stricter in control - of course, within reasonable limits. In any case, he will not require any special skills from the driver.

We managed to try the low-set S40-T4 sedan with the sport suspension on a real track for automobile ring races. Of course, Volvo is far from specially dressed monsters wrapped in slicks that participate in championships. But for a road car, it coped with a cascade of high-speed turns quite well. On the smooth asphalt of the "ring" it is difficult to find the bumps found in everyday life. But it was worth striking the curb with the wheels to feel - the chassis "sport" is much tougher than the "speaker".

S40 / V40-T4 cars are equipped with powerful brakes. Front - ventilated discs with a diameter of 281 mm, rear - discs with a diameter of 260 mm. In addition to a vacuum booster and anti-lock braking system, a novelty is also included in the standard package - electronic brake force distribution (EBD). It helps the car maintain directional stability when slowing down.

Another useful electronic circuit controls traction. If one of the drive wheels starts to rotate faster than the rear, then the engine control computer receives a command to reduce the fuel supply so that the wheel speeds are aligned. The action takes place almost instantly in thousandths of a second and does not interfere with the driver. The full name of the electronic assistant is Dynamic Stabilization System (DSA). It is operational in the entire speed range and allows you to accelerate on any surface without losing traction, while maintaining stability and controllability of the car.

These tricks somewhat alienate the T4 from sports, but increase active safety. As for the passive safety of Volvo, then probably all the drivers have heard about it. Instead of a detailed description of new products in this area, I will give only one fact. In summer, Europe independently tested 13 cars of the so-called compact class. The S40 sedan received the highest rating among all participants in crash tests.

Salons S40 / V40-T4 are almost the same as other models of the family. There are only two differences. The first, frankly, controversial. Between the front seats on the back of the driver's seat is a wide folding armrest. In the raised state, it practically does not interfere, but in the lowered state it makes it difficult to change gears, especially to tall people. This attribute of chic life frankly does not fit with the character of the car. In an imposing limousine, he would have looked much better next to the automatic transmission selector. But if the armrest is so necessary in T4, what prevented it from being fixed on the driver’s seat, not on the driver’s one? The second innovation is a sports leather steering wheel, which is equipped with all machines with the T4 index. There are no questions - in a dynamic car it is quite appropriate.

The concept of a “wolf in sheep's clothing” has taken root in our country. Many drivers want to get a powerful engine in addition to the family car. Some turn to tuning companies to revive the VAZ “eight” or “nine”. Others, more affluent, buy Western equipment. There are many Volvo fans in Russia, and among them there will probably be buyers of a sports car in Swedish - practical, reliable, comfortable, safe and fast.

Alloy wheels, an oval tailpipe and a spoiler on the boot lid give the S40-T4 sedan a dynamic look.

At the hub of the sports steering wheel is an airbag.

Volvo S40-T4, V40-T4 - sports modifications (sedan and station wagon) of the S40 / V40 family (ЗР, 1997, No. 1). The cars are equipped with turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engines with a working volume of 1.9 liters and a capacity of 147 kW / 200 hp. Transmission - only five-speed manual. There are several suspension options: “speaker” as standard, “sport” or “comfort” - to order.

Engine "Volvo S40 / V40-T4". The working volume is 1855 cm3, the power is 200 liters. with.

Sports station wagon can accelerate to 235 km / h.

Such two-section headlights are installed only on Volvo sports cars.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VOLVO-S40-T4 CAR

(in brackets - different parameters of the station wagon "Volvo V40 -T4")

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