The zooty new Volvo V50, unveiled earlier this month at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy, offers specification levels more in line with the larger V70. It will be available with new five cylinder petrol engines of 2,4 and 2,5 litre displacement and a four cylinder diesel unit.
The most powerful of the pack, the sporty V50 T5, delivers 162 kW of power and 320 Nm of torque respectively, mated to the six-speed transmission of the S60R and V70R and, in some versions, Volvo’s electronically-controlled all-wheel-drive. The 100 kW four-cylinder turbo-diesel version is mated to a (different) six speed manual transmission, while those equipped with the 125 kW naturally-aspirated five cylinder petrol engine come with a five speed manual box.
The Volvo V50, built at the company’s plant in Ghent, Belgium, will be launched in South Africa in mid 2004 alongside the new S40. Pricing and models for our market are still unknown.