This is the Volvo V40 R-Design

Handsome tyke, isn't it? It's the new Volvo V40 R-Design, revealed today in its new favourite colour: blue.

Volvo hasn't wasted much time in rolling out the Friday Night version of its rather lovely new V40 hatch; it's been a mere few months since we first got our hands on the Swedish carmaker's luxury Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series rival, and the first vital signs are very good indeed.

This ‘R-Design' version features a silk-metal framed high-gloss front grille, an ‘ironstone' diffuser, silk-metal finished details and twin exhaust pipes at the rear. The five-spoke diamond-cut alloy wheels are available in 17in or 18in, while you can actually choose from six other exterior colours if the ‘Rebel Blue' livery above leaves you feeling a touch moody.

No such choice for the dashboard layout colour: yep, it's blue, and only blue. The half-textile and half-leather seats (full leather is an option) feature an embroidered ‘R-Design' logo, and there are aluminium inlays dotted around the front.

Naturally, you get the choice of the engine line-up, including 1.6-litre petrol and diesel units, as well as an upcoming 254bhp range-topping turbocharged ‘T5' petrol. It all sits on a chassis developed in co-operation with Swedish racing driver Robert Dahlgren. Tick the box marked ‘Sport', and your V40 will feature a 10mm lower setup compared with the ‘Dynamic' chassis, with firmer springs and shocks.

Volvo is hoping the R-Design will help lower the age of its customer base. Young people of the Internet, do you like the new V40 R-Design?