Actually, the turn toward focusing on a more youthful market began with the S40 sedan and V50 wagon. According to AutoWeek, the number of Volvo buyers 35 years old or younger has jumped from 23 percent of sales to 48 percent in just a five year period.  The C30 and 2008 updates of the S40 and V50 are expected to increase those numbers.

Volvo has implimented several strategies towards this highly-desired segment. The 2008 V50 and S40, for example, have interior  improvements that provide an increase in storage space. Moreover, an auxiliary audio jack and USB port are now standard. The V50 and S40 T models now include a boost of horsepower from 218 to 227. And safety, Volvo's hallmark, will increased with more safety features including a nice trick that automatically starts the emergency flashers in the event of a collision. In addition, the BLISS blind-spot monitoring system and the active Bi-Xenon headlights are available for these models as an option.

It is expected that the 2008 S40 and V50 will be available by late July. MSRPs run as follows: S40 2.4i, $24,365; S40 T5, $28,515; S40 T5 AWD, $30,365; V50 2.4i, $26,815; V50 T5, $29,715; V50 T5 AWD, $31,565.

Volvo also hopes for a jump in the sale to more youthful buyers in the more expensive end of its line with the introduction of the all-new 2008 V70 and XC70 wagons later this year.