HEICO V40 HPC

HEICO SPORTIV shows what’s technically possible with the Volvo V40 T5 HPC. 350 hp, 4-wheel drive and extremely dynamic driving characteristics are the ingredients that make the sporty compact car an interesting alternative to the Audi S3 Sportsback, BMW M135i xDrive and Mercedes A45 AMG.

The abbreviation “HPC” has a long tradition at HEICO SPORTIV. In 2007, the Volvo tuner presented the “High Performance Concept” based on the Volvo S80 T6 at the Las Vegas SEMA Show. At the time, the specification of customer, Volvo Cars Corporation, had just one requirement: maximum performance without compromising any safety feature or Volvo’s iconic durability.

Six years on down the line, the Volvo V40 T5 HPC is now following in these footsteps. The abbreviation meanwhile stands for “HEICO Performance Car” and heralds the next evolutionary level: “While the S80 HPC was purely a concept car, the V40 HPC has been designed as a series-producible vehicle, with approval for normal roads and for everyday use,” explains HEICO SPORTIV General Manager, Holger Hedtke. “The HPC combines HEICO SPORTIV’s Volvo V40 individualization program with a number of specially developed high-performance components.”

GUARANTEED DRIVING PLEASURE: FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE, 350 HP, 510 NM

The four-wheel drive, Cross County variant of the Volvo V40 – the Volvo V40CC T5 – serves as the basis model. This was an easy decision for project manager, Martin Müller: “To attain maximum traction and, thereby, the best possible driving characteristics, we had to transmit power to all four wheels. As the Volvo V40 is only produced as a front wheel drive, our natural choice was to go for the Volvo V40CC with all-wheel drive.”

The powerhouse is a redesigned, 2.5 liter cubic capacity, 5-cylinder turbo engine. Compared to the series-produced engine, the turbocharger, exhaust system (including sport catalytic converter and flap control), intercooler and charge-air system have been fundamentally revamped. The performance kit is rounded off by the HEICO SPORTIV performance enhancement system, e.motion®, and the new HEICO SPORTIV speedpack for increasing the top speed before the series-produced speed throttle kicks in. Maximum power increases from 187 kW (254 hp) to 235 kW (320 hp) and, when the water-ethanol injection system is activated, to as much as 257 kW (350 hp). Torque is boosted from 360 Nm to 510 Nm.

The water-ethanol injection system is activated with the illuminated HEICO stainless-steel button in the central console. Level 1 (green) is the standard setting for 320 hp; level 2 (blue) opens the exhaust system flaps; level 3 (blue, flashing) additionally activates the water-ethanol injection system. In this mode, the Volvo V40 T5 HPC accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 265 km/h. With these specifications, it’s safe to say the HPC is probably the world’s fastest and most powerful Volvo V40!