> Is there any way to modify a European import for use here?

As far as I know, no. Not unless the car in question is a very specific 'historically important' car.

Only way you could get one is to buy and import one for track/circuit use or display only.

The problem is that any car for sale in the US needs to have a type approval from the EPA and the DOT. The procedure for getting such an approval is very expensive and needs to be performed for every engine+transmission combination.

Volvo probably assumed that too few manuals would be sold to make it cost-effective to have these approved for the US.

> I've read about the S40 T4 (200 bhp, sport suspension etc.) and that it's only for sale in EU markets.

Actually it's available (was.. it's no longer made now) everywhere outside the US/Canada market. Your southern neighbours in Mexico are driving T4's!!

> Does any one know any more about this model?

Yes. I had one for several years (sold it to buy a Lotus Elise now). The 200HP/300Nm figure is pretty conservative.. The early cars which were 1855cc with a high-pressure turbo already pushed out between 205 to 210HP as standard. The Phase-II T4's (2001 onwards) are 1948cc and usually deliver about 220HP.

The manual gearbox is the same M56 unit as found in the S/V70 and S60.

Given enough time, money and effort you could convert a late model USA Auto-tranny S40 to a Manual T4. It won't be an easy or cheap job though as you'd need to dismantle the engine, install T4 pistons and conn-rods (lower compression compared to the 1.9T), install a turbo with different compressor trim (14T vs. the 12T on the 1.9T) and get the ECU re-programmed with a 'T4' map (and make it 'forget' about the auto-box)

Then you need to install a manual box and it's clutch, pedals, control cables, axle-shafts, etc. etc..

Still forgetting about a dozen other things probably :)

> Any idea whether it would pass inspection here in the US if purchased abroad?

It wouldn't pass. The OBD system in these cars is very similar to the US OBD-II system, but it does not have the same systems to check the fuel tank for leaks and such that are required on US cars.

Bye, Arno.

I do remember that when OBDII came around in the mid-90s, Volvo was no longer able to offer a manual tranny with the 850-R. So I guess that in a way, the manual trannies are not offered because of emissions issues. It probably has something to do with feedback from the automatics that they can't get easily from the manuals, so they just don't spend on the R&D to have it in the States.