Author:
ROBIN ROBERTS
The business community has shaped the marketing of the new Volvo V40, says Volvo Car UK MD Nick Connor.
Speaking at the launch of the new five-door C-segment hatchback in North Wales this week, Nick said the business buyer had always been an important element to Volvo, and particularly so at this time.
The new Volvo V40 is the right car at the right time for the market, he said, adding, “We see people downsizing and the C-segment five-door hatchback is spot on the money for them.”
The decision to have a lead-in 94gkm 1.6 with its 115hp diesel engine will be particularly attractive to the fleet driver who can pick from a list of models, said Mr Connor.
“We have always done particularly well in the user-chooser section of fleet and the new V40 is ideal for them because we have gone out to the residual value estimators and asked them what they thought would help with keeping up values and incorporated that feedback into our UK cars specifications.”
This pack concept is going to be rolled out with future new Volvo models if it proves as successful as Nick Connor believes it will be with the V40 customers and buyers.
The new V40 D2 hits the 94gkm mark when it’s fitted with 205-profile tyres but its stablemate with 225-profile rubber ware still gets in a creditable 99gkm with the same powertrain.
The new Volvo V40 range will launch with a choice of sixteen 1.6 and 2.0 diesel powered hatchbacks in ES, SE and SE Lux trim using 115, 150 and 177hp engines from £19,745 to £26,795 and a further eight petrol models with 150 or 180bhp 1.6 engines priced between £20,380 and £26,680.
Automatic six speed is available as an alternative only on the 150 and 177hp 2.0 diesel for now, while the petrol derivatives will also be manual only. Later this year a T5 2.5 six-cylinder petrol with 254hp and choice of transmissions will be added to the range.
Volvo has standard City Safety radar activated automatic braking system which now works up to 31mph and the world’s first bonnet mounted pedestrian airbag which cushions a person’s impact with the A-pillars.
Options have been grouped into desirable multi-feature packs which are based on customer requests and which will strengthen residual values. All the major resale forecasters have predicted used values of the Volvo V40 will be in line with the current best in class.
Standard features include Bluetooth connectivity, which means it is very attractive to fleet users who are expected to make up 68pc of V40 drivers and it will help with sales and boost residual values down the line. High quality sound systems are also standard.
Analysts at Lex Autolease, KeeResources, Alphabet and CAP have all given the V40 favourable assessments against the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Volkswagen Golf, with some also equating to the new MB A-Class.
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