The Volvo S40 2,4i was named SA’s “Car of the Year” in Germiston last night. The title is the second major local accolade to be bestowed on the S40, which was also named the best compact range in CAR’s recent Top 12 Best Buys for 2005 feature.
The Volvo S40 2,4i was named South Africa’s “Car of the Year” in Germiston last night. The title is the second major local accolade to be bestowed on the S40, which was also named the best compact range in CAR’s Top 12 Best Buys for 2005 feature.
The S40 was not only the first Volvo to win the local “Car of the Year” title, sponsored by Wesbank and voted for by Guild of South African Motoring Journalists jury members, but also the first petrol-engined vehicle to claim the honour in five years.
Volvo Car South Africa launched the S40 model range in May last year. The company says the 2,4i, the entry-level model in Volvo’s local car range, helped the Swedish manufacturer increase sales by 58 per cent last year compared with its totals in 2003.
“The acknowledgement of the S40 as South Africa’s Car of the Year for 2005 is a confirmation of the quality and attractiveness of the Volvo brand,” said Jacques Brent, managing director of Volvo Car South Africa.
