Volvo Expands V40 Family with Sportier R-Design and Tougher Cross Country Models

The all-new Volvo V40 R-Design and V40 Cross Country received their world premiere today at the 2012 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris. Both models are more about style than essence with the R-Design placing the emphasis on sporty looks and the Cross Country on its off-road appearance.

Beginning with the R-Design version, the Swedish carmaker's premium hatchback obtains a slightly more aggressive exterior thanks to a re-profiled front bumper, a silk-metal finish for the front grille, the new rear diffuser and the exterior mirrors, chrome exhaust pipes and 17-inch or optionally, 18-inch alloy wheels.

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Volvo Tells Us V40 Cross Country Not Coming to the States Either [New Photos and Videos]

The good news about the V40 Cross Country is that we have a fresh set of high-resolution images and a pair of videos to show you following the introduction of the car the other day.

The bad news is that if you live in the United States and thought the Cross Country's tougher looks may have persuaded Volvo to bring it to this side of the Atlantic, we hate to disappoint you, but that's not going to happen.

We asked Laura DiStefano, Corporate Communications Manager for Volvo Cars of North America, and her reply was the same we got for the regular V40 hatchback: "No plans for the U.S."

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New Volvo V40 Cross Country Photos Released in Advance of the Paris Motor Show

The first official images and details of the new Volvo V40 Cross Country have dripped on the web revealing the Swedish carmaker's smallest crossover model.

Originally thought to be named XC40, the new Volvo is a taller standing and more rugged looking version of the brand's V40 compact hatchback, designed more or less around the same philosophy as the larger XC70.

The halfway (if not even less...) crossover model from Volvo gets some chunky black cladding around the redesigned front and rear bumpers that also feature silver colored protective plates, and side sills, along with silver roof rails, newly styled alloy wheels and a 40mm taller ride height than the regular V40.

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Volvo Introduces Sportier Looking V40 R-Design Variants [w/Video]

Launched ahead of its world premiere at this month's Paris Motor Show is the new Volvo V40 R-Design, which is essentially a trim package with some minor styling enhancements for both the exterior and interior of the premium hatchback, much like the "R-Line" kits for the VW Beetle that we told you about in our previous post. Read more »

Crazy Swedes do a Burnout with a Tow Truck Carrying a Volvo

So it is indeed true that you can do a burnout with just about anything that rolls on wheels and anywhere (as one of you rightly pointed out), even a Volvo 740 sedan on a moving Volvo tow truck.

The burnout took place in Sweden with plenty of other cars including a 940 Wagon also taking part in the event.

Slide through the break to watch all four video clips.

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Watch Volvo's BMW M3 Killer, the S60 Polestar Performance in Action

Any automaker that wants to play with the big names in the premium car league needs a performance lineup.

Just think about it; even Cadillac, which for the most part of its history was associated with luxury and cars that resembled...land yachts caved in and created the V-Series once its parent company GM got serious about competing against the Germans.

In all fairness, Volvo gave it a try much earlier with the 249hp 850 T-5R in the mid-1990s followed by the 296hp S60 R in the early 2000s before officials pulled the plug on the 'R' designation (not to be confused with the R-Line accessories and trim levels) in 2007.

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