Volvo track car?

[Z4MCSL]

I posted this in the Volvo section but probably makes more sense in the track day forum as that is the ultimate point here:

So my first relatively nippy car was an S40 T4.

Having upgraded from a 1.2 16v punto I was over the moon, back in the day it felt rapid.

I have moved into other marques and faster cars since then but I still have soft spot for the T4.

Recently I bought a track day project car as a second car, a clio 182, and its awesome, I have been stripping a lot of weight from it and now it is really entertaining. My guesstimate based on cars with similar weight saving that have been properly weighed is it should now be under a tonne. I'm sure it doesn't have all 182 horses anymore but it's fun and great in the corners.

Anyway I ended up randomly Googling T4s again recently and saw a reference to 1275kg, can this be right?

If so it's it's interesting prospect, they come up on ebay at silly prices and often with a blown turbo. It got me thinking a 19T on a 2.0 or 1.9 T4 engine should get closer to 275hp and if you can strip even just 75kg which I'm sure would be easy you've suddenly got a better power to weight ratio than an RS3 sport back and the same as an M4 convertible?!

I'm sure it would struggle to get around the corners without some sort of diff and aftermarket suspension but does get me thinking.

Any one know if these weight figures are correct and has anyone run one as a track car?

[Jim Spencer]

The weight is right (or as right as the manufacturers weights get..) and yup, Volvo themselves ran them in the BTCC back in the late 90's.. think there's still one knocking about in the HSCC super touring series?

[braddo]

The problem is, it won't be anywhere near as much fun as a similar budget spent on a lightweight rwd car!

[motorhole]

Certainly seen contingents of Volvo enthusiasts on trackdays before. I know of someone who runs an S40 track car too. So whilst left field, it's not all the way out there!

[Truckosaurus]

Aren't that era of S40 basically a Ford Focus?

Turn the boost up and fit decent tyres and it'll be as amusing as most things out there.

(Perhaps go the whole hog and get a V50 so you can easily carry a set of track tyres in the boot)

[Cambs_Stuart]

My last time out there was a stripped and stickered up silver and blue S40 that arrived on a trailer. As has been said there is a lot of ford parts underneath so there will be plenty of options for brakes, suspension etc.

[FNG]

I've had a hankering to build one of these into the closest thing I can get to the pre-season test car for the BTCC v40.

I've always thought one would be quick for its age and appearance, and you'll not likely see another. Often, anyway.

So OP could you please crack on and do it, and I can live vicariously through you? Thanks in advance

[The spinner of plates]

Truckosaurus said:

Aren't that era of S40 basically a Ford Focus?

Turn the boost up and fit decent tyres and it'll be as amusing as most things out there.

(Perhaps go the whole hog and get a V50 so you can easily carry a set of track tyres in the boot)

Post 2004-ish they were based on the Ford Focus platform.

The first pre-2003 was basically a Mitsubishi Carisma underneath. Not a proper Volvo IMO.

I had one as a company car. Not a bad car, but not great either. Bit of a pudding as I remember it.