Life begins at S40

Pitstop

This car is the first Volvo to use their new compact-car platform, and will presage the V50 wagon that's also due soon.

Designed to appeal to younger buyers, the S40 is yet another attempt by the Swedish carmaker to move away from its earlier image, which was that of staid family cars for the middle-aged.

According to Volvo's Design Director, Henrik Otto, the new car features 'aggressive' exterior styling, and has a centre console 'that appears to be free-floating, creating extra storage space behind it, which is a unique design icon for the new Volvo S40.'

The range-topping T5 model will feature a 220 horsepower five-cylinder petrol engine, and performance is likely to best in class. The 300 bhp S60 T, and the V70 R will continue to be the hottest, fastest Volvos, but the S40 won't be too far behind.

In addition to the T5, there'll be five other petrol units available, as well as a 136 bhp turbodiesel.

The car will, of course, be in keeping with Volvo's traditional comprehensive approach to safety. Multiple grades of high-tensile steel used in its structure make sure that the S40 offers, according to CEO Hans-Olov Olsson, 'precisely the same safety levels as our larger models, but within more compact dimensions.'

Expect airbags and electronic safety gizmoids (ABS, traction control, and so on) to be standard right from base model up, as they are on all Volvo cars.

The good times grow

Kawasaki has just released the details on a motorcycle big enough to stagger imagination. Meet the Vulcan 2000.

The 2000 is not an allusion to the turn of the century, but the gargantuan 2,053 CC four-valve pushrod V-twin engine that will power a cruiser larger than most islands.

And get this, each piston is more than 10 cm in diameter! Stretching across a yawning wheelbase are stylish, macho lines that look good and Kawasaki promises will be just as satisfying to swing a leg over.

While the exact dimensions and power output is still to be announced, Kawasaki promises that the largest production V-twin in the world will move on significantly.

Among the highlights of the motorcycle are the nacelled headlamps, which include three projector lamps and a conventional bulb, all of which are on when the rider switches to high-beam.

Obviously, those of us not riding a Vulcan 2000 should keep our sunglasses handy even after dusk. The gorgeous slash-cut pipes promise plenty of audible warning that a gigantic Kawasaki is headed your way.

Mine is smaller

Kia will be showing its small new five-door car - the Sa - at Frankfurt next month. Tiny it may be, but Kia claims the Sa will have class-leading interior space, will comply with the latest emissions laws, and will lead the way towards a tripling of the company's overall sales figures by end-2005.

Though it'll also be available in Korea, the Sa has been designed specifically for Europe, and will initially come with a choice of 1000 CC and 1100 CC petrol engines, which produce 59 bhp and 63 bhp respectively.

A diesel unit should be available by 2005. When it goes on sale, the Sa will likely be the cheapest car available in its class, with frugal fuel consumption, at around 18 kpl too.

Cheap, clean and very practical (how does 882 litres of luggage space sound?), the Sa has the makings of a budget-bestseller. And oh, those who tend to get all fussy about how their cars look can even opt for either 14- or 15-inch alloys.