First Videos of Heico Sportiv's Volvo V40 T5 HPC with 345-Horses, Should They Build It?

The hot hatch segment has come a very, very long way since Volkswagen wrote the first page in the segment with the original Golf GTI powered by a 108hp (110PS) 1.6-liter engine in the summer of 1976. Nowadays, we're seeing hatches with close to 50 percent more power than a Ferrari 308 GT4 from the mid-1970s…

Volvo has tried to venture in the category with a number of proposals over the years, but it never really hit the mark, something that Heico Sportiv is aiming to achieve with its latest concept that may very well enter production.

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New 345HP Volvo V40 T5 HPC Study by Heico Sportiv Eyes Mercedes A45 AMG and Audi S3

Volvo's feisty performance partner Heico Sportiv has turned the wick on the Swedish brand's V40 with the presentation of a new concept that may soon be offered to European buyers. It is named the V40 T5 HPC, which is an abbreviation for "High Performance Concept".

Heico states that it is "world’s most powerful Volvo V40" adding that the hatchback's "350 hp, 4-wheel drive and extremely dynamic driving characteristics are the ingredients that make the sporty compact car an interesting alternative to the Audi S3 Sportback, BMW M135i xDrive and Mercedes A45 AMG."

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The Volvo of the Future Will Drop You Off and Park All by Itself [w/Video]

We’ve heard a lot about autonomous driving in recent years, but how about autonomous parking? Volvo has given this a thought and is developing the technology that will make autonomous parking a reality in the future.

A Volvo V40 prototype fitted with the technology is able to find and park in a vacant space by itself, without the driver inside. Volvo says the driverless car interacts safely and smoothly with other cars and pedestrians in the car park.

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Heico Sportiv Rolls Out New Volvo V40 Pirelli Special Edition

Here's something you don't see every day: a tuning company releasing a special edition model in honor of one of its partners. In this case, the tuner is Heico Sportiv, the partner is Pirelli and the car, the new Volvo V40 compact hatchback.

Heico Sportiv said it created the V40 Pirelli Edition on the occasion of Pirelli's 50 years in Germany and 110 years of tireworks in Breuberg, where the Italian tire-maker has a factory. Heico Sportiv and Pirelli have been partners since 2009.

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Volvo Bets on Safety with Its April Fool’s Day Joke

Renowned worldwide for its extensive approach to safety, Volvo has thought about an April Fool’s joke that would be easier to believe and came up with the world premiere of the External Vehicle Protection (EnVeloP) system. Read more »

2014 Volvo V40 Gains Updated Engine Lineup, More AWD Offers for Cross Country

Volvo has introduced the 2014 model year V40 in Europe, with the most important news being the addition of another AWD version in the Cross Country range, further CO2 reductions across the lineup and a new optional Sensus Connected Touch system.

Beginning from May 2013, the 180PS (178hp) T4 will be the second model in the V40 Cross Country's range to be offered with all-wheel drive, joining the 254PS (251hp) T5.

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European Car of the Year Short List with the 8 Finalists Revealed, Think You Can Pick the Winner?

After announcing the 34 nominees (38 if you include re-badged models like the Seat Toledo and Subaru BRZ) in late September, the organizing committee of the European edition of the Car of the Year award has now released the short list with the 8 finalists.

Normally, the short list includes 7 models, but due to the fact that two cars tied in the same position during the voting process, the committee increased the number of finalists to eight, just as it did in the 2007 edition of the award.

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Volvo UK Puts a Price Tag on New V40 R-Design and Cross Country Models

Following their recent world premiere at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September, Volvo UK has confirmed pricing and specifications for the new additions to the range of its V40 premium hatchback, the sporty R-Design and tall riding Cross Country models.

Both models are available to order now with first customer deliveries to arrive in Britain in January next year.

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Volvo Expands V40 Family with Sportier R-Design and Tougher Cross Country Models

The all-new Volvo V40 R-Design and V40 Cross Country received their world premiere today at the 2012 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris. Both models are more about style than essence with the R-Design placing the emphasis on sporty looks and the Cross Country on its off-road appearance.

Beginning with the R-Design version, the Swedish carmaker's premium hatchback obtains a slightly more aggressive exterior thanks to a re-profiled front bumper, a silk-metal finish for the front grille, the new rear diffuser and the exterior mirrors, chrome exhaust pipes and 17-inch or optionally, 18-inch alloy wheels.

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Volvo Tells Us V40 Cross Country Not Coming to the States Either [New Photos and Videos]

The good news about the V40 Cross Country is that we have a fresh set of high-resolution images and a pair of videos to show you following the introduction of the car the other day.

The bad news is that if you live in the United States and thought the Cross Country's tougher looks may have persuaded Volvo to bring it to this side of the Atlantic, we hate to disappoint you, but that's not going to happen.

We asked Laura DiStefano, Corporate Communications Manager for Volvo Cars of North America, and her reply was the same we got for the regular V40 hatchback: "No plans for the U.S."

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New Volvo V40 Cross Country Photos Released in Advance of the Paris Motor Show

The first official images and details of the new Volvo V40 Cross Country have dripped on the web revealing the Swedish carmaker's smallest crossover model.

Originally thought to be named XC40, the new Volvo is a taller standing and more rugged looking version of the brand's V40 compact hatchback, designed more or less around the same philosophy as the larger XC70.

The halfway (if not even less...) crossover model from Volvo gets some chunky black cladding around the redesigned front and rear bumpers that also feature silver colored protective plates, and side sills, along with silver roof rails, newly styled alloy wheels and a 40mm taller ride height than the regular V40.

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Volvo Introduces Sportier Looking V40 R-Design Variants [w/Video]

Launched ahead of its world premiere at this month's Paris Motor Show is the new Volvo V40 R-Design, which is essentially a trim package with some minor styling enhancements for both the exterior and interior of the premium hatchback, much like the "R-Line" kits for the VW Beetle that we told you about in our previous post. Read more »

Heico Sportiv Launches New Volvo V40 Tuning Program

After giving us a foretaste of its tuning program for the all-new 2013 Volvo V40 in the summer with pictures and initial details, Heico Sportiv has now officially launched a variety of performance and styling accessories for the Swedish brand's premium compact hatchback.

The German company's offerings encompass power enhancements, exhaust systems, sport suspensions, wheels and interior and exterior design elements.

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EuroNCAP Tests New Audi A3, Ford B-MAX, Isuzu D-Max, Kia Cee'd, Renault Clio and Volvo V40

Six brand new models including the 2013 Audi A3 hatchback , Ford B-MAX minivan, Isuzu D-Max pickup truck, Kia Cee’d hatch, Renault Clio supermini and Volvo V40 premium compact have undergone safety tests by Euro NCAP and all but one of the vehicles assessed received the full five-star rating.

The most impressive results came from the new Volvo V40 five-door hatchback that not only achieved five stars but also became Euro NCAP’s all-time top scorer in its segment.

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New Photos of Heico Sportiv's Volvo V40 Hatchback

As it gears up for the launch of its new product line for the Volvo V40 premium hatchback in late summer - early fall, Heico Sportiv has dropped some fresh photos of the Swedish compact model dressed in its aero suite and one of the many alloy wheels it plans to offer. Read more »

Heico Sportiv Previews V40 Tuning Program and Bio-Diesel Racer

The ongoing 2012 Auto Mobil International (AMI) in Leipzig, Germany, saw Volvo tuning specialist Heico Sportiv reveal the first-ever racing version of the V40 as well as the first real life photos and details of its upcoming performance and styling program for the production model.

Heico Sportiv, which is the official Volvo Car Germany partner for road vehicle customization, says it is developing a raft of parts for the V40 premium compact hatchback.

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SCOOP: New Volvo XC40 Crossover Caught Disguised and…Undisguised

At the same time our spy shooters were snagging pictures of Volvo's engineers testing a camouflaged prototype of the upcoming crossover version of the V40, a member of the Dutch Volvo Forum hit the jackpot by spotting the production model completely undisguised during a photo shoot.

The compact crossover will likely be named the XC40 with its presentation possibly taking place as early as this fall at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

Judging by these photos, the XC40 is to the V40 what the XC70 is to the V70. In other words, a soft off-roader version of the V40 with a slightly tougher look that benefits from a raised ride height, an assortment of robust plastic cladding, prominent roof rails and perhaps either standard or optional all-wheel-drive system.

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Volvo Shows us How the New V40 Hatchback's Innovative Pedestrian Air-Bag Works

Among all the safety features introduced on the V40 compact hatchback, which as you may have already heard, will not be coming to North America, the most impressive is the ground-breaking pedestrian airbag that will be fitted as standard to all specifications.

Developed as part of the Swedish automaker's somewhat unrealistic goal that "no-one should be killed or injured in a new Volvo by 2020", the V40's pedestrian air-bag promises to significantly reduce the risks of head injuries.

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New Volvo V40 Hatchback Starts from £19,745 in Britain

A little over a month after its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, Volvo of Britain has released detailed pricing on the brand's new premium five-door hatch, the V40.

On-the-road prices range from £19,745 for the base 115hp diesel to £26,795 for a fully equipped SE LUX model with a 177hp diesel. Volvo said that customers can place their orders now, though the first cars won't be arriving in the UK before September.

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