VOLVOV40 2000 - 2004

　　Volvo introduced the V40 in 1996 after signing an agreement with Mitsubishi, but after joining Ford Motor Company in 1999, it introduced a facelift for the entire range.

　　The Swedish carmaker offered the V40 more as a lifestyle station-wagon, which was different from those built to move a student to college from one trip, including its desk and closet. It was made for families who enjoyed spending time outdoors, with plenty of room in the back to store a tent and roof-rails on top to hold a canoe.

　　Four years after it was introduced on the market, the V40 went through a facelift that brought new bumpers, headlights, and new taillights. Ford already had a bigger experience in how to facelift a vehicle and improve it in front of its customers and helped its new partner. It advised the Swedish carmaker to add new light-alloy wheels and new safety systems. Volvo was already known for its safe vehicles.

　　Inside, there were minor changes to the cabin. On the center stack, the climate control panel was replaced. There was a new stereo, which featured an in-dash CD-player. Volvo improved the look of the instrument panel as well, by adding larger LCDs on the bottom of the speedometer and tachometer for the on-board computer info and the odometer.

　　Under the hood, the carmaker introduced a few new engines, with direct fuel-injection turbodiesel units provided by Renault. Another significant upgrade was for the automatic gearbox, which received a fifth-gear that lowered the engine noise at highway speeds and improved fuel-efficiency.

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