Volvo's entry level S40 sedan has led the last two full-line Volvo makeovers, each of which has met with critical acclaim. Despite the fact that the S40 and its V50 wagon sibling were last redesigned in late 2003 and are both still looking great, like vain Hollywood 30-somethings they've gone under the knife for a nip-tuck anyway. It's nothing overly serious, just a retool of the soft parts on either end, but the result is striking and serves to heighten the resemblance of the S40 to the new flagship S80, and the V50 to its V70 sibling, which is thoroughly renewed for 2008.
Specifically, the S40's face gets new headlamps, a deeper-set chrome-ringed grille with a larger Volvo emblem, and a single lower air intake spanning the width of the chin. The V40 retains its three lower air intakes to emphasize a strong vertical element and gets a prominent black egg-crate grille like the V70's in front. New taillamps and a fascia with new exhaust outlets freshen the rear of both models. An R-design sport-appearance package will become available soon on both the S40 and V50 (also the C70), consisting of lowered front and rear spoilers and side sills, a modest rear wing, and more.
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