Details of the stylish and valuable improvements to 2003 models of Volvo's S40 saloon and V40 estate ranges are now available, with first deliveries expected in late May or early June.

· New look: stylish internal and external changes include - black grille, revised 4-dial dashboard instrumentation, 3-spoke steering wheel and body coloured mouldings (SE and Sport Lux models)
· New model: 1.8i engine now available as S40 and V40 Sport
· Improved specifications: electric rear windows, front fog lights, passenger airbag, and roof rails (V40 only) now standard on all models
· Improved fuel economy and emissions: Revised engine management calibration for 1.6, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.0T engines for more MPG, and lower emissions
· New key fob with integrated remote locking and folding key
· New colours: Virtual Blue, Maya Gold, Silver Green, Cherry Red
· New alloys: Larger 16in Telesto alloys for SE and Sport Lux
· Many prices reduced (by up to £500); prices still start at £14,480 OTR
· More comfort: Improved seats with new backrests
· Improved safety: Side Inflatable Curtain now bigger, deeper and inflates quicker

Styling, Specification and Safety
Although there are no changes to the body panels, the 2003 S40 and V40 models can immediately be identified by some select and important changes that create a fresh, new look.

These include a new, sporty, black 'egg-crate' front grille, a key fob with integrated remote locking and folding key, new dashboard instrumentation with four dials (similar to Volvo's larger S60, V70 and S80 models), a 3-spoke steering wheel, and revised seats with improved lumbar support and slimmer head restraints. In addition, body coloured side mouldings and bumper inserts now distinguish SE and Sport Lux models.

Most models have improved fuel economy and emissions, while all have increased safety and specifications, with many prices reduced.

Standard specifications have improved, with all models gaining front fog lights, electric rear windows and passenger airbags as standard, while all V40 models now have roof rails and a cargo net as standard, too.

Volvo has also made the S40 and V40 even safer, with bigger, deeper Inflatable Curtains to protect occupants in side impact collisions, that now deploy quicker - and can be fully inflated in just 30 thousandths of a second.

The economical 1.8i direct injection petrol engine is now available in Sport as well as SE models, making its lean CO2 emissions of just 164 g/km now available from £16,880 and £17,880 on the road for the S40 and V40, respectively.

Other model changes include the deletion of the lower powered, 102bhp 1.9D diesel engine in Sport and Sport Lux models, while the top of the range T4 models are now known as T4 Sport and Sport Lux, instead of S and SE.

Premium Value
The new S40 and V40 range for 2003 is even better value. The specification improvements are worth up to £490 and £1,020 respectively for the new S40 and V40 S models, with only modest price increases to some models, while many have not changed or have reduced by as much as £500.

S40 Old £(OTR) New £(OTR) +/- V40 Old £(OTR) New £ (OTR) +/-
1.6 S £14,480 £14,480 £0 1.6 S £15,330 £15,480 +£150
1.8 S £15,245 £15,495 +£250 1.8 S £16,095 £16,495 +£400
2.0 S £15,955 £16,205 +£250 2.0 S £16,805 £17,205 +£400
2.0T S £17,055 £17,305 +£250 2.0T S £17,905 £18,305 +£400
1.9D S 102bhp £16,110 £16,360 +£250 1.9D S 102bhp £16,960 £17,360 +£400
1.9D S 115bhp £16,800 £16,900 +£100 1.9D S 115bhp £17,650 £17,900 +£250
1.8 Bi-Fuel S £17,020 £17,270 +£250 1.8 Bi-Fuel S £17,870 £18,270 +£400
1.8 Sport £16,245 £16,245 £0 1.8 Sport £17,095 £17,245 +£150
1.8i Sport new - £16,880 - 1.8i Sport new - £17,880 -
2.0 Sport £16,955 £16,955 £0 2.0 Sport £17,805 £17,955 +£150
2.0T Sport £18,055 £18,055 £0 2.0T Sport £18,905 £19,055 +£150
T4 Sport (T4 S) £19,095 £19,095 £0 T4 Sport (T4 S) £19,945 £20,095 +£150
1.9D Sport 115 £17,800 £17,650 -£150 1.9D Sport 115 £18,650 £18,650 £0
1.6 SE £16,480 £15,980 -£500 1.6 SE £17,330 £16,980 -£350
1.8 SE £17,245 £16,995 -£250 1.8 SE £18,095 £17,995 -£100
1.8i SE £17,880 £17,630 -£250 1.8i SE £18,730 £18,630 -£100
2.0 SE £17,955 £17,705 -£250 2.0 SE £18,805 £18,705 -£100
2.0T SE £19,055 £18,805 -£250 2.0T SE £19,905 £19,805 -£100
1.9D SE 102bhp £18,110 £17,860 -£250 1.9D SE 102bhp £18,960 £18,860 -£100
1.9D SE 115bhp £18,800 £18,400 -£400 1.9D SE 115bhp £19,650 £19,400 -£250
1.8 Bi-Fuel SE £18,845 £18,595 -£250 1.8 Bi-Fuel SE £19,692 £19,592 -£100
1.8 Sport Lux £17,745 £17,495 -£250 1.8 Sport Lux £18,595 £18,495 -£100
1.8i Sport Lux £18,380 £18,130 -£250 1.8i Sport Lux £19,230 £19,130 -£100
2.0 Sport Lux £18,455 £18,205 -£250 2.0 Sport Lux £19,305 £19,205 -£100
2.0T Sport Lux £19,555 £19,305 -£250 2.0T Sport Lux £20,405 £20,305 -£100
T4 Sport Lux £20,595 £20,345 -£250 T4 Sport Lux £21,445 £21,345 -£100
1.9D Sport Lux 115bhp £19,300 £18,900 -£400 1.9D Sport Lux 115bhp £20,150 £19,900 -£250
All prices 'on the road' (OTR)

Economy and Emissions
Fuel economy on the 2.0T improves from 23.5mpg to 25.9mpg on the urban cycle, 45.6 to 46.3mpg on the extra urban cycle, and from 34.0 to 35.8mpg on the combined cycle.

Volvo has increased the appeal of its 2003 model year S40 and V40 to the fleet sector in particular by reducing emissions and improving fuel economy on its range of petrol engines.

Emissions and fuel economy have improved for the majority of the range, with emissions on the 163bhp 2.0T reducing by nearly five per cent from 198 g/km to 189 g/km.

This reduces a driver's tax liability from 21 per cent of list price to 19 per cent, which in turn reduces a 22 per cent tax payer's annual tax bill on an S40 or V40 2.0T Sport by around £75.