Apparently, the Volvo V40 isn’t being imported to North America; but nobody said the Cross Country wasn’t coming here, did they?

The iconic V70 ended up being usurped by the XC60. The V50 wagon was effectively replaced by the XC60. And with Audi, BMW and Mercedes offering entry-level compact luxury cars (the A3, X1 and the upcoming A/B-Class), Volvo has an opening for their own entry. The V40 Cross Country is a bit more crossover-esque than the standard V40, but the upshot is available all-wheel drive.

Powertrains include three diesels (not going to happen, sorry) and two gasoline engines; a 1.6L 4-cylinder, which is unlikely to come here, and Volvo’s venerable 2.5L 5-cylinder turbocharged engine. If the V40 drives anything like the XC60, then the 2.5L with AWD would be a very compelling package. Fingers crossed.

CORRECTION: Some bad information has gotten out – no V40 for us.

The V40, along with a planned XC40 crossover will make their way stateside, ostensibly to compete with new compact entries from Mercedes-Benz and BMW. These cars will represent the final run of Ford-based Volvos. No word on what engine choices will be offered, but the T5 turbocharged 5-cylinder engine seems to be a logical choice. Offer it with a 6-speed manual and I’ll put a deposit down once I stop eating sardines for dinner.

Initial reviews of the “T4″, which use the Ford 1.6L Ecoboost powertrain are positive. Let’s hope that the V40 is followed up by a new XC90. Not even Methuselah has had such a long run. The new XC90 will apparently be the first car to use Volvo’s new scalable platform and modular 4-cylinder turbo engine family.

Volvo’s Pedestrian Airbag Technology isn’t as fun as the Jiffy Pop Airbag, but it’s an interesting concept nonetheless. Pyrotechnic hoods that pop-up during an impact are nothing new, but where Volvo adds value is through the use of an airbag that pops up from a cavity at the base of the windshield.

Pedestrian safety laws are most famous for changing the face of car design, mandating ugly, inelegant front ends that are wide, low and blunt. Pedestrian injuries are gruesome and horrific (as anyone who has ever seen someone get hit by a car can attest), so the cause is a noble one. But there’s no doubt that automotive design has sacrificed much to be in compliance with these regulations. Is there a chance that these airbags can help bring back the glory days of styling? Probably not. Check out the video below for a demonstration.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Of all the new debuts at the Geneva Auto Show, this would probably be what I’d like to own the most; the Volvo V40 T5. With a 256 horsepower turbocharged 5-cylinder engine making 295 lb-ft , I’d have plenty of performance on tap, and the knowledge that Volvo’s safety features would keep me unharmed when I inevitably did something stupid.

The V40 won’t just be available in performance trim. A pair of 1.6L 4-cylinder engines will also be offered – with 1.6L diesel, which makes 115 horsepower and over 200 lb-ft of torque, emits less than 100 grams of CO2 per kilometer, an important number in countries where vehicles face an emissions tax. A more powerful diesel will also be available. A start-stop system, regenerative braking andVolvo’s CitySafe collision avoidance system will be standard throughout the range. Other features, like a self-parking system, will be available on certain models. Volvo apparently won’t be selling the V40 in the U.S., despite Mercedes and Audi offering competitive vehicles in the near future – maybe they’ll have a change of heart?

Today is Wagon Day, a brand-new made up holiday when North Americans are tortured with photos of wagons that will not be available to us despite our endless pleas. First up, the Volvo V40.

Reports are stating that a 1.6L 4-cylinder will be present in the V40, but Volvo’s new modular engine family, with its 500cc per cylinder capacity, would suggest a 2.0L mill instead. We’ll find out for sure once the car is unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show. Since the C30 was such a spectacular sales flop in the United Sates, don’t look for this to make its way over here.

Once upon a time, Volvo built the V40 at the Nedcar plant, alongside the Mitsubishi Carisma. Volvo ended that partnership in 2001, but the Dutch managed to pull one over on Volvo, leaking early pics of their new V40 compact in advance of its Geneva debut.

The V40 will apparently be the first Volvo built on their new modular platform, and will underpin an S40, C40 and XC40 (count on the last one to be the most likely candidate for a spot in the future lineup). Different variants will underpin the “60″ and “90″ series vehicles as well. The V40 is said to be 2.2 inches shorter than the outgoing V50, making it a foot longer than a Volkswagen Golf. City Safety collision avoidance will also be standard. The Dutch Autoblog article mentions 1.4L and 1.8L engines, but that doesn’t jibe with Volvo’s new modular engine strategy which calls for 500cc per cylinder (and thus a 2.0L 4-cylinder). We’ll see what’s really going on in a couple of weeks.