Exterior design themes for 2008 S40 & V50 05.05 (image courtesy of Volvo Cars)
Exterior design themes for 2008 S40 & V50 05.05 (image courtesy of Volvo Cars)
2008 MY S40 & V50
From the planning stage, around the time of the launch and first press and customer feedbacks, a very broad content was established, and agreed by design and the business group.
Distinct specification levels, plus strong visual graphics and definite S & V differentials were called for. This meant adding content and higher product quality goals, but to be achieved with a zero increase in product cost.
The design team led by Steve Harper, consisted of Rolf Malmgren and Kalle Magnusson on the exterior, Oskar Guth and Gunnar Johansson for the interior and Maria Uggla for the colour & materials. The team were based at the Caran studio in Gothenburg during 2005 – 06, and completed the car on time and budget for production start by the middle of 2007.
The new design met all of the brief, and more. The cars were now very much more distinctive and expressive, and the interior was more harmonious, luxurious and more practical.