Volvo proves it can dabble in carbon fiber with the limited-edition V40 Carbon

By Ronan Glon May 23, 2015

Earlier this year, Volvo joined forces with Polestar to develop tuning packages for cars equipped with a fuel-sipping Drive-E engine. The first Volvo to get the new Polestar Performance Optimization treatment is the limited-edition V40 Carbon.

Buyers can choose from one of two engines, both of which have been tweaked using technology gleaned from Polestar’s numerous racing programs. Called D4, the entry-level unit is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel mill that makes 200 horsepower and a generous 324 foot-pounds of torque, increases of 16 and 30, respectively, over the standard model. The more expensive T5 packs a 2.0-liter gasoline-burning four-banger rated at 253 ponies and 295 foot-pounds of torque, figures that represent increases of 25 and 36, respectively, over a stock T5.

The Carbon stands out as the first Volvo fitted with a carbon fiber roof panel. Polestar has also added black model-specific 19-inch alloy wheels, mirror caps made out of carbon fiber and black exhaust tips, making the Carbon one of the most muscular-looking regular-production compacts Volvo has ever built. Inside, it gains red seat belts and a sprinkling of carbon fiber trim.

Now, for the bad news. Only 343 examples of the V40 Carbon will be built, and it will only be available in Finland, France, Japan, the Netherlands and Sweden. In other words, the Polestar-tuned hatchback will be an exceptionally rare sight even if you happen to live in a country that it’s sold in.

Volvo has not announced how much of a premium the Carbon will command over the standard V40. However, the company promises it will release additional Polestar-massaged models by the end of next month.

What’s next?
Recent rumors indicate that Volvo and Polestar are considering building an even hotter version of the V40. If approved for production, the hot-rodded V40 will reportedly pack a 300-horsepower version of the T5’s 2.0-liter that will spin all four wheels via a Haldex-type all-wheel drive system. Comprehensive brake and suspension modifications will be on hand keep the cavalry in check.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

Cars

Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations

The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.