2008 Volvo C30
Tuesday, December 5th, 2006
Volvo is breaking into a new vehicle division with its conveniently sized small, sporty C30 hatchback. It follows the design of a concept vehicle by the same name that was shown at the Detroit auto show back in January.
The company hopes to sell 65,000 C30s annually. Although it will be sold in the U.S. as a 2008-or-later model, the primary markets will be Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K., Volvo said. The car goes on sale in Europe and other foreign markets next summer and officially debuts at the Paris auto show in September.
The C30, which will compete with the Mini Cooper, is aimed at young singles or couples with “intense city lifestyles,” Volvo said. Its compact dimensions are suited to driving and parking on cramped city streets. The C30 is most visually interesting from the rear, with a unique taillight design and rear window hatch. Note the resemblance to the 1971 Volvo P1800 ES and 2001 Saftey Concept Car pictured at right, both of which inspired the C30’s design.
The front of the car resembles the S40 sedan and V50 wagon. The C30 will be powered by the 218-hp turbocharged five-cylinder engine used in those vehicles. That engine is more powerful but less fuel efficient than that of the Mini Cooper S; it gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway in the S40 and V50, while the Mini Cooper S averages 23 mpg to 25 mpg city/32 mpg highway.
The interior accommodates four occupants and the rear seat-backs fold forward to expand luggage capacity. The signature thin, “floating” center console from the S40/V50 has been incorporated into the C30’s interior design. As expected, the C30 comes with a litany of standard safety features, including whiplash protection and side airbags.
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