I chuckle when I read that images of a car which has not yet been revealed leak out onto the internet. Such unfortunate leak recently happened at Volvo, where detailed images and video of the new 2013 V40 leaked onto the internet. Since we have many fans of the Swedish brand here, tell me Hoons, what do you think of it?

I look at the new V40 and I see… an Audi A3. That is not a bad thing at all, especially after my experience with driving my uncle’s A3 TDi, but it’s no Volvo. Volvos were hip because they were square, practicality and function were the design language, and safety was the tagline which sold them to yuppie parents. I look at this new 2013 V40 and I see none of that. The Volvo badge could be replaced with any random car-de-jour badge and no one would know any different.

In addition to styling and branding, what would Volvo need to do in order to move more of these off the dealer lots? Some amazing new safety features? Exemplary fuel economy? Hyundai-like price with Audi refinement? How would you convince someone to buy this over the new excellent Subaru Impreza?

[Image and Video Source: thewholedamninternet.com]

[youtube width=”640″ height=”360″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0WtKn4edFo[/youtube]