European Car of the Year Short List with the 8 Finalists Revealed, Think You Can Pick the Winner?

After announcing the 34 nominees (38 if you include re-badged models like the Seat Toledo and Subaru BRZ) in late September, the organizing committee of the European edition of the Car of the Year award has now released the short list with the 8 finalists.

Normally, the short list includes 7 models, but due to the fact that two cars tied in the same position during the voting process, the committee increased the number of finalists to eight, just as it did in the 2007 edition of the award.

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Volvo UK Puts a Price Tag on New V40 R-Design and Cross Country Models

Following their recent world premiere at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September, Volvo UK has confirmed pricing and specifications for the new additions to the range of its V40 premium hatchback, the sporty R-Design and tall riding Cross Country models.

Both models are available to order now with first customer deliveries to arrive in Britain in January next year.

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Volvo UK Puts a Price Tag on New V40 R-Design and Cross Country Models

Following their recent world premiere at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September, Volvo UK has confirmed pricing and specifications for the new additions to the range of its V40 premium hatchback, the sporty R-Design and tall riding Cross Country models.

Both models are available to order now with first customer deliveries to arrive in Britain in January next year.

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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 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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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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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 »

Heico Sportiv Launches New Volvo V40 Tuning Program

After giving us a foretaste of its tuning program for the all-new 2013 Volvo V40 in the summer with pictures and initial details, Heico Sportiv has now officially launched a variety of performance and styling accessories for the Swedish brand's premium compact hatchback.

The German company's offerings encompass power enhancements, exhaust systems, sport suspensions, wheels and interior and exterior design elements.

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EuroNCAP Tests New Audi A3, Ford B-MAX, Isuzu D-Max, Kia Cee'd, Renault Clio and Volvo V40

Six brand new models including the 2013 Audi A3 hatchback , Ford B-MAX minivan, Isuzu D-Max pickup truck, Kia Cee’d hatch, Renault Clio supermini and Volvo V40 premium compact have undergone safety tests by Euro NCAP and all but one of the vehicles assessed received the full five-star rating.

The most impressive results came from the new Volvo V40 five-door hatchback that not only achieved five stars but also became Euro NCAP’s all-time top scorer in its segment.

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New Photos of Heico Sportiv's Volvo V40 Hatchback

As it gears up for the launch of its new product line for the Volvo V40 premium hatchback in late summer - early fall, Heico Sportiv has dropped some fresh photos of the Swedish compact model dressed in its aero suite and one of the many alloy wheels it plans to offer. Read more »

Heico Sportiv Previews V40 Tuning Program and Bio-Diesel Racer

The ongoing 2012 Auto Mobil International (AMI) in Leipzig, Germany, saw Volvo tuning specialist Heico Sportiv reveal the first-ever racing version of the V40 as well as the first real life photos and details of its upcoming performance and styling program for the production model.

Heico Sportiv, which is the official Volvo Car Germany partner for road vehicle customization, says it is developing a raft of parts for the V40 premium compact hatchback.

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SCOOP: New Volvo XC40 Crossover Caught Disguised and…Undisguised

At the same time our spy shooters were snagging pictures of Volvo's engineers testing a camouflaged prototype of the upcoming crossover version of the V40, a member of the Dutch Volvo Forum hit the jackpot by spotting the production model completely undisguised during a photo shoot.

The compact crossover will likely be named the XC40 with its presentation possibly taking place as early as this fall at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

Judging by these photos, the XC40 is to the V40 what the XC70 is to the V70. In other words, a soft off-roader version of the V40 with a slightly tougher look that benefits from a raised ride height, an assortment of robust plastic cladding, prominent roof rails and perhaps either standard or optional all-wheel-drive system.

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Volvo Shows us How the New V40 Hatchback's Innovative Pedestrian Air-Bag Works

Among all the safety features introduced on the V40 compact hatchback, which as you may have already heard, will not be coming to North America, the most impressive is the ground-breaking pedestrian airbag that will be fitted as standard to all specifications.

Developed as part of the Swedish automaker's somewhat unrealistic goal that "no-one should be killed or injured in a new Volvo by 2020", the V40's pedestrian air-bag promises to significantly reduce the risks of head injuries.

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New Volvo V40 Hatchback Starts from £19,745 in Britain

A little over a month after its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, Volvo of Britain has released detailed pricing on the brand's new premium five-door hatch, the V40.

On-the-road prices range from £19,745 for the base 115hp diesel to £26,795 for a fully equipped SE LUX model with a 177hp diesel. Volvo said that customers can place their orders now, though the first cars won't be arriving in the UK before September.

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Canada Won't be Getting the New Volvo V40 Either

Since many of you, our readers, asked whether the new Volvo V40 hatchback would be coming to Canada, as the company's U.S. spokespeople wouldn't elaborate on the issue, we decided to find out by sending an email to Volvo Cars of Canada.

And the answer in short is no, the compact-sized Volvo V40 won't be sold in Canada either.

"Volvo Canada also has no plans at the moment to bring the new V40 into the market. If things change at some point in the future, we’ll let you know," Paul Chater from Volvo of Canada told Carscoop in an email.

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Volvo Says the V40 Won't be Coming to the U.S. as There's not Enough Inerest in 5d Models [Updated]

We had a hunch that the all-new V40 hatchback wouldn't be making it to the United States after the Swedish automaker stated that it expects to sell 90,000 units per year with 85 percent of those or 76,500 cars earmarked for the European market.

Nevertheless, just to make sure, we contacted Laura DiStefano, who is the Corporate Communications Manager for Volvo Cars of North America, asking her if the Swedish company had "plans to bring the new V40 or any of its future derivatives to the U.S.A. or Canada".

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Volvo Officially Reveals New V40, Aims for 90,000 Sales Per Year

Volvo's new V40 is by far the most leaked model of the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. And after the recent revelations, there was no point to keep it under wraps so the Swedish automaker came forward with all the details about its new premium C-segment contender.

“The all-new V40 is the first new model that is fully developed according to our human-centric, Designed Around You strategy”, said Volvo CEO Stephan Jacoby.

Jacoby added that the new model will “definitely give our toughest competitors a headache”. By which he means the BMW 1-Series and the upcoming Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

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