Volvo Car Malaysia has launched the facelifted Volvo V40 in T5 Inscription specification for the Malaysian market. This new model now comes with some updates to keep it contemporary. The most visible and noticeable update are the new Inscription front grille with larger Volvo 'Iron Mark' logo and the 'Thor's Hammer' headlights that takes after Volvo's 90 Series cars. This is the first major external revision to the looks of the V40 ever since it was first launched in 2012 (for the 2013 season).
The V40 T5 Inscription is very attractively priced at RM180,888 (on-the-road without insurance, inclusive of six per cent GST). This is because Volvo assembles it locally in its Shah Alam plant (and has been building cars there since the 1960s). It also has the Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) tax status keeping the price down. There will be four exterior colours - Ice White, Onyx Black, Osmium Grey, and Luminous Sand (which is a new colour). Volvo Car Malaysia had also stated that this is not the sole V40 model that will be sold here in Malaysia. They are also planning to release the V40 T4 at a later date.
The good thing about this variant is that it comes equipped with a lot of features and performance to boot. The Inscription package is the most luxurious trim packing out there for Volvo and you can see it even from the outside with the more prominent, slightly outwards curving matt chrome finished front grille as well as the small trim bits on the bumpers. The lights, which are standard in the facelifted V40 also add to its visual presence and some menace to its slightly feminine lines.
The interior of the new V40 gets actual Milled Aluminium trimmings - those shiny bits are actual polished aluminium and not just chromed plastic. Actual metal is something rare in cars these days folks. It replaces the Shimmer Graphite inlay and a new 'Inscription' scuff plate added to the door sills. The new Volvo Iron Mark logo is carried across the entire car including the steering wheel, Sensus display, and the key fob.
Like the other new Volvo cars, the CleanZone logo is etched on instrument panel air vents. Volvo’s CleanZone technology ensures that outside air is effectively filtered before entering the cabin, removing harmful pollutants and making the air you breathe inside the car cleaner than the air you breath outside. Good if you commute from exhaust filled city centres and other industrial areas.
As this is a Volvo, it comes with a lot of active safety systems, City Safety – Volvo’s umbrella term for Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) or Collision Avoidance and Mitigation technologies are included. There are also blind spot information system or blind spot sensors that assist you whilst driving ( I like this system, as it does pick up those cars and bikes that somehow sit in your blindspots of your side mirrors).
The V40 T5 Inscription basically keeps its class-leading 2.0liter4 cylinder turbocharged Drive-E powertrain. This engine was first installed in a V40 sometime in 2015 and reached our shores sometime during the third quarter of 2016. With outputs 245hp and 350 Nm of torque which is managed by an 8-speed gearbox, it translates to an acceleration time of 6.3s (0-100km/h) and a maximum speed of 240km/h.
Add this quite powerful drivetrain with the V40's simplistic, understated Scandinavian looks and you get quite a performance sleeper. You get that level of luxury with its well designed interior, supportive seats with all this performance too. According to the chaps from Volvo Car Malaysia, the car rides well too. Not overly stiff even though it has 245hp.
I have driven the V40 T5 2.0 Cross Country and the V40 T4 1.6 in early 2016. Both of these had the pre Drive-E engines. The T5 CC came with most of the equipment you see here with the only differences being the engine, gearbox and exterior updates. Totally enjoyed it even though it only had 213hp. Good fun actually.
So with the new V40 T5 Inscription you get more premium bits in Volvo's entry level car, a more prominent face (which is needed if you want to push into the premium car market) and an engine that puts a lot of more aggressive looking hot hatches to shame. All for in the RM185,000 region, if you factor in the insurance needed. Quite good value for money actually.
PRESS RELEASE (and more photos below)
The New Face of the Volvo V40 Launched in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR – Volvo Car Malaysia has unveiled the new face of the V40 by launching the V40 T5 Inscription, bringing the popular hatchback visually closer to Volvo’s new 90 Series cars.
The most prominent feature of this new update is the new Inscription grille mesh cradling the new Volvo Iron Mark and the ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights which results in a confident new look.
“In Malaysia, the V40 is our best-selling model after the XC90 making it a very important car for the company. We hope that the new updates in the V40 T5 Inscription will make this very successful model even more attractive to customers within this segment,” said Lennart Stegland, Managing Director, Volvo Car Malaysia.
Other additions to the exterior look includes the new Inscription “rank mark” which was first introduced in the XC90. Inscription denotes the highest trim level (Kinetic, Momentum, and Inscription) within the Volvo product range.
On the interior, Milled Aluminium replaces the Shimmer Graphite inlay and a new Inscription tread plate added. The new Volvo Iron Mark update will carry across the entire car including the steering wheel, Sensus display, and the key fob.
Volvo’s continuing leadership in interior air quality is highlighted in the V40 T5 Inscription with the inclusion of the CleanZone logo on instrument panel air vents. Volvo’s award-winning CleanZone technology ensures that outside air is effectively filtered before entering the cabin, removing harmful pollutants that are increasingly common in large urban areas. CleanZone technology reflects Volvo’s ongoing work to improve the in-car experience, covering incoming air, interior emissions and odours, interior surfaces and contact allergies.
The V40 T5 Inscription will maintain its class-leading Drive-E powertrain which outputs 245hp and 350 Nm of torque which is managed by an 8-speed gearbox. This translates to an acceleration time of 6.3s (0-100km/h).
As always, the V40 T5 Inscription will also retain its segment-leading active safety system, City Safety – Volvo’s umbrella term for Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) or Collision Avoidance and Mitigation technologies.
“In terms of overall product offer, this is the best, value-for-money package that a customer could get in this segment – be it in performance, safety and convenience features, the V40 T5 Inscription is hard to beat,” added Stegland.
The V40 T5 Inscription will be priced at RM180,888 (on-the-road without insurance, inclusive of six per cent GST). Customers will also get to choose four exterior colours including a new colour for the V40: Ice White, Onyx Black, Osmium Grey, and Luminous Sand (new).
Volvo Car Malaysia had also indicated that it will also release the V40 T4 at a later date.
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