Test drive Volvo S40 1996 - 2000 sedan

"Athlete" in Swedish

Giving a family car sports features is not so easy, unless, of course, we are talking about external attributes - spoilers, threshold lining and other hitch. The most difficult thing is to maintain an acceptable balance between sports and practicality. An ordinary driver who has a temperamental car should not experience inconvenience. In addition to outstanding driving qualities, give him the ease of control, voluminous trunk, high passive safety, a considerable resource of units and other valuable properties. A similar strategy is answered by the new Volvo models with the T4 index - the fastest machines of the S40/V40 family.
In fairness, I will note that ordinary S40 sedans and the V40 station wagons have a rather bright appearance, not without sports features. Their design is quite modern - rapid lines, a wedge -shaped body shape. To select the S40/V40T4, only a few strokes have been added. Exclusive 16-inch wheels from a light alloy with tires 205/50ZR16 are installed on these cars. The headlights of the head light are also new - composite two -section, with smooth disperfiters without any pattern. A wide oval exhaust pipe completes the picture. A kind of 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, she has a slutty motor: four with a working volume of 1855 cm3 with turbocharged can develop a capacity of 200 hp. and moment 300 N.M in the range from 2400 to 3600 rpm. Is it a lot or not enough? For clarity, we compare the S40T4 with a large Volvo 850T5, equipped with a 2.3-liter five-cylinder power unit with a capacity of 225 hp. Specific (from a liter of working volume) moment - 162 N.M/L U T4 versus 130 N.M/l at T5. I hope to comment on these numbers. Having tried the car on the go, I can confirm that the engine is really good. Not only accelerated dynamics and maximum speed are impressive. It is frisky, but not sharp - traction almost from the idle and, most importantly, does not suffer from a clearly pronounced pickup at medium speeds, which is characteristic of many other aggregates with turbocharges. But the sound accompaniment is clearly designed for an amateur of fast driving. It is worth turning the key in the ignition lock, as a hearing begins to caress a hard and fairly loud roar. With an increase in revolutions, it intensifies, but does not go into annoying noise. Everything is good in moderation, even a racing accompaniment. I think not everyone wants the roar of the throat combat motor to block the sound of the radio (and it is in Volvo, and not bad).
Sports style usually implies only one type of transmission. The Volvo S40/V40-T4 is equipped only with a mechanical gearbox from the senior model range S70/V70. This is a five -speed, completely synchronized (including reverse) box with a cable drive for soft and clear switching.
 
The chassis of sedanov and universal T4 is thoroughly processed. The springs, shock absorbers and a reptile stability stabilizer have become tougher. To improve controllability, the longitudinal angle of inclination of the wheel rotation axis is increased. In addition, changes have been made to the rhecking mechanism of the steering and hydraulic power steering. In the standard configuration, the T4 models are equipped with a speaker with a suspension, to order - a sport option (it is even tougher, and the road clearance below 20 mm) or comfort. How did the novelty affect the behavior of the car?
Compared to conventional S40/V40, the suspension stroke in temperamental T4 has become shorter, the rolls in corners decreased, the sensitivity of the steering increased. Despite the rigid shock absorbers and springs, the car remained comfortable. Yes, it shakes a little stronger on bumps, but it sings less on a gentle wave. At the same time, the road holds perfectly, the turns are confident. In short, the speaker chassis is the same successful compromise between sports and degree. But nothing is given in vain - the car became stricter in management - it is clear, within reasonable limits. In any case, he will not require any special skills from the driver.
 
The low-set S40-T4 sedan with a suspension was able to try on a real highway for automobile ring racing. Of course, Volvo is far from the specially trained monsters in slides, which participate in the championships. But for the roadway, he coped with a cascade of high -speed turns very well. On the smooth asphalt of the ring, it is difficult to find the bumps found in everyday life. But as soon as the curves struck the wheels to feel - the chassis of the sport is much tougher than the speaker.
S40/V40-T4 cars are equipped with powerful brakes. In front - ventilated discs with a diameter of 281 mm, behind - discs with a diameter of 260 mm. In addition to the vacuum amplifier and the anti -lock system, the novelty also includes the novelty - the electronic distribution system of brake force (EBD). It helps the machine to maintain exchange rate stability when slowing down.
Another useful electronic circuit controls with a traction effort. If one of the leading wheels begins to rotate faster than the rear, then the command enters the engine to reduce fuel supply so that the speed of rotation of the wheels is leveled. The action takes place almost instantly in the thousandths of a second and does not interfere with the driver. The full name of the electronic assistant is the dynamic stabilization system (DSA). It is operational in the entire speed range and allows you to accelerate on any coating without losing the clutch with the road, maintaining the stability and controllability of the car.
 
The listed tricks are somewhat distant T4 from sports, but increase active safety. As for the passive safety of Volvo, all drivers are probably heard about it. Instead of a detailed description of new products in this area, I will give only one fact. In the summer in Europe, independent tests of 13 cars of the so-called CD-class took place. The S40 sedan received the highest rating among all participants at Crash tests.
S40/V40-T4 salons are almost the same as other models of the family. There are only two differences. The first, frankly, is controversial. Between the front seats on the back of the driver's seat, a wide folding armrest is fixed. In the raised state, it practically does not interfere, but in the lowered, it makes it difficult to switch the gears, especially to the tall people. This attribute of a chic life frankly does not fit with the character of the car. In the imposing limousine, he would look much better next to the automatic gear selector. But if the armrest is so necessary in the T4 that it prevented him from securing him not in the driver's seat, but in the passenger seat? The second innovation is a sports leather steering wheel, which is equipped with all cars with the T4 index. There are no questions here - in a dynamic car it is quite appropriate.
 
The concept of the wolf in the sheep's skin took root in our country. Many drivers want to get an addition to a family car and a powerful engine. Some turn to tuning firms to revive the VAZ eight or nine. Others, more wealthy, buy Western equipment. There are a lot of fans in Russia, and among them there will probably be buyers of a sports car in a sinewood - practical, reliable, comfortable, safe and fast.
Light alloy wheels, an oval exhaust pipe and a spoiler on the trunk cover give the S40T4 sedan a dynamic look.
In the hub of sports steering - a pillow of safety.
Volvo S40T4, V40T4-Sports modifications (sedan and station wagon) of the S40/V40 family (ZR, 1997, No. 1). Cars are equipped with four -cylinder engines with a turbocharger with 1.9 liters with a capacity of 147 kW/200 hp. The gearboxes are only mechanical five -speed. There are several suspension options: a speaker in standard configuration, sports or comfort - to order.
VOLVO S40/V40-T4 engine. Working volume - 1855 cm, power - 200 liters. With.
 
 
Technical characteristics of the car Volvo-S40-T4
(in brackets - different parameters of the VOLVO V40 -T4 station wagon)
General data: number of places - 5; Equipped mass - 1300 (1320) kg; maximum speed - 235 km/h; acceleration time from a place to 100 km/h - 7.3 s; The average fuel consumption is 9.5 l/100 km; Fuel supply - 60 liters. Dimensions, mm: length - 4483; width - 1717; height - 1411 (1413); base - 2550; The track of the wheels: the front - 1454, the rear - 1474; Road clearance - 150. Engine: gasoline, four -cylinder, in -line, 4 valves per cylinder, with turbocharged; Located ahead transversely; cylinder diameter and piston stroke - 81x90 mm; working volume - 1855 cm3; compression degree - 8.5; Power - 147 kW/200 hp at 5500 rpm; The maximum torque is 300 N.M at 2400-3600 rpm. Transmission: drive - on the front wheels; gearbox - mechanical five -speed; Transporting numbers: I-3,38; II-1,91; III-1,19; IV-0.89; V-0.65; Z.Kh - 3.30; The main program is 4.25. Suspension: the front is independent, such as McEferson, the back is an independent multi -link. Brakes: with an amplifier and ABS, in front - circular ventilated, behind - disk. Tire size - 205/50ZR16.
 

Vadim Kryuchkov
Photo by the author and Volvo
  
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"