Kuala Lumpur, 28 January 2010 - Designed to complement the go-getter lifestyle of today's active urbanite, the Volvo V50 2.0 Powershift fits in not only fun, freedom and style, but also loads of practicality and versatility. Whether you’re on a long weekend with friends, a cozy getaway with your partner or even sending your little ones to school, the V50 2.0 Powershift does the trick every time.

Throw in its innovative new Powershift transmission and reduced fuel consumption and you'll be finding even more excuses to take it out for an extended spin, even when the only thing you need to do is make a quick dash to the local market to load up on groceries.

"In the five-door V50 2.0 Powershift, Volvo has produced a wagon that is without compare," said Volvo Car Malaysia President Goran Larsson. ‘It’s classy, timeless and engineered to live up to the expectations of adventurous buyers looking for a practical, versatile wagon that’s designed for activity, and for the active."

Larsson said the V50's new six-speed Powershift Dual Clutch Transmission with Geartronic and shift lock gave buyers more bang for their buck as it provides a smoother and seamless drive while reducing fuel consumption by as much as 11% in comparison with the 2.4i litre engine.

"You can go further and do more with the new V50 2.0 Powershift," said Larsson. "It’s everything you, your family or friends will need - a stylish wagon with added sportiness and premium feel, loads of cargo space and a high-performance audio system with smooth road manners. 

"And, of course, during all your rugged adventurous trips to Malaysia's many scenic holiday destinations, you can always count on Volvo’s iconic safety features to bring your loved ones and you home safely."

The Volvo V50 boasts a stylish design with a curved roofline and an abrupt tail section. The car's appearance emanates modern design and speed. This is emphasised by a rounded nose section, short bonnet and pronounced cab-forward stance. Broad shoulders and convex side panels signal power and underscore the car's compact dimensions. The tail lamps follow Volvo's modern form and sweep up towards the roof panel.

An Auto-fold function is available for the power retractable mirror option. With the Auto-fold function, the mirrors are set to automatically fold in when the car is locked. When the car is unlocked, the mirrors will fold out again.

Despite its compact exterior dimensions, the Volvo V50 2.0 Powershift offers a spacious, flexible and comfortable interior. Every passenger seat has a fold-flat backrest. With the seats folded down, the load compartment floor is entirely flat. In order to create even more space for luggage, the car's rear section has been extended by 46 mm compared with the Volvo S40 sedan model.

The interior is inspired by Scandinavian product design with the emphasis on uncluttered surfaces, honest materials and good function. The Volvo V50 (and Volvo S40) saw the introduction of Volvo's ultra-slim, free-floating centre console with illuminated storage compartment behind.

"Safety is always a cornerstone of Volvo’s philosophy," said Larsson. "Volvo’s aim is to offer cars that are safe for all people in all imaginable traffic situations, and the V50 2.0 Powershift follows in our grand tradition of safety first." 

Aside from all the preventive safety features found in the V50 2.4i, such as the body’s immense torsional rigidity and a sturdy chassis, several new features are also found in the new Volvo V50 2.0 Powershift. These are BLIS, Dual Xenon lights and the DSTC.

Protective safety in the Volvo V50 2.0 Powershift comprises exterior and interior safety systems that interact with one another to reduce the risk of occupant injury in a collision. The exterior systems have the task of distributing and absorbing incoming collision forces so that the passenger compartment remains as intact and undamaged as possible. The body is therefore built in the form of a metal cage made of different grades of steel, where all the components interact with one another to ensure controlled deformation.

"The interior safety systems aim to keep the passengers securely in place and also to reduce the risk of serious injury," said Larsson. "In order to provide the most effective protection possible, a number of in-house systems such as WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) and IC (Inflatable Curtain) all are fitted as standard in the Volvo V50. What is more, all five seats are equipped with three-point inertia-reel seat belts and head restraints. Four of the five seats are also equipped with belt pre-tensioners.

"Volvo adopts a holistic view of safety that encompasses both preventive and protective safety and inline with this, our vision is that by 2020 no-one should be killed or injured in a Volvo," concluded Larsson. 

The 145hp, 4-cylinder 6-speed V50 2.0 Auto Powershift comes in a new exterior colour, Brilliant Blue and is priced at RM185,950 (OTR without insurance) and RM189,950 (OTR without insurance) in East Malaysia.