Volvo S40, V50 discontinued for 2012

Recently, we reported that Volvo was considering trimming its model line here in the United States, and according to Kicking Tires, it appears that the S40 sedan and V50 wagon are the first two models to get the axe. Both vehicles are relatively old – the current S40 debuted in 2004, the V50 arrived one year later – and with no updates planned, we sort of saw this coming.

In speaking to Kicking Tires, Volvo spokesperson James Hope says that the automaker's focus needs to be on its volume vehicles – the S60, XC60, XC90, S80 and XC70. Not mentioned in this list are the C30 hatchback and C70 convertible, which will reportedly carry on for at least the 2012 model year despite slow sales.