Volvo C30: First Look

By Motoring Channel Staff - 27/Sep/2006

Paris, France - Volvo has finally come clean with its new small car model, the C30 hatch, which made its public debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show in France. The new hatchback car is one of Volvo's most progressively styled cars yet, and is expected to attract plenty of attention from younger buyers.

Volvo says that it's main rivals will be vehicles from European luxury hatchbacks, such as the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and the Alfa Romeo 147, so pricing is expected to begin at around $40,000 when the vehicle arrives in Australia in 2007. And for the thrill seekers, Volvo will be deconstructing its 'old man' image with a high performance version of the C30 hatch, powered by the same engine as the Ford Focus XR5, a 5-cylinder turbocharged engine making 162kW of power, or about 220 horsepower.

The new car shows off a sporty design, explains Volvo, featuring two doors, and four individual seats, rather than the standard 3-seat rear bench that most small cars offer and another dominant feature is the glass tailgate that gives the Volvo C30 a unique rear end.

"The new Volvo C30 is a cool car," said an upbeat Fredrik Arp, the President and CEO of Volvo Cars, adding that the new model is a vehicle that "...aims for a group of young singles, or couples, with busy urban lives. These people prioritise excitement in design and driving characteristics, and this car is designed to suit their taste and lifestyle."

Small car sales are lifting in most Western countries as the price of oil continues to rise, making them more affordable on a daily basis, and Volvo is almost 100% certain that its new C30 hatchback model will boost its worldwide sales to record numbers, particularly as it plans on releasing efficient 1.6-litre 4-cylinder models. The Scandinavian car maker hopes to sell 65,000 units of the new Belgian-built C30 per year worldwide, and has proposed that three quarters of these buyers will be from Europe, with the largest markets expected to be Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain.

"The new Volvo C30 plays an important role in our push towards a volume of 600,000 cars a year," continued Volvo chief Fredrik Arp. "We are broadening our model programme to make it possible for new, younger customers with a busy lifestyle to choose a Volvo with the right appeal as early as possible," says Fredrik Arp.

Measuring 4.25 metres in length, the C30 is now the smallest member of Volvo's model range, some 220mm shorter than the current smallest Volvo model, the Volvo S40 saloon, and with its unlikely 4-seat layout and new age design, Volvo is hopeful that the car's non-conformist approach will attract new buyers. Another non-conformist aspect of the car is its exterior design: Volvo explains that the sloping roofline and distinct wheel arches give the new Volvo C30 a dynamic silhouette, enhanced by the extreme curve of the side windows as they taper towards the rear. The distinctive Volvo 'shoulders' are in evidence at the rear of the car, above thehorseshoe-shaped brake lights, and the glass tailgate combines with the twin exhaust pipes to create a distinctive and modern look.

"The C30 has plenty of muscle in a sporty and compact package. Anyone who recalls the Volvo SCC (Safety Concept Car) will recognise the exclusive and convenient rear tailgate. The distinctive tail lights ensure that everyone will be certain about which car is in front of them," explained Volvo Car's Design Director Steve Mattin, on the subject of the C30's look and feel.

Getting back to 4 seat layout, there are two separate folding rear seats with generous head and leg room according to Volvo, and the rear seats are slightly centred to provide a feeling of space and a good view forward. The space between the seats also makes Volvo's unique, ultra-thin centre stack clearly visible through the glass tailgate, and as Håkan Abrahamsson stated (Volvo C30 project leader), "The new C30 is about 'customised functionality'. Volvo will offer a lot of possibilities for personalisation and design solutions so customers can choose the type of car they want."

Standard features for Volvo's new small car include high quality audio systems, including a digital 5x130W ICE Power amplifier from Alpine, Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound, and 10 Dynaudio speakers. Safety has always been an integral part of all Volvo cars, and the C30 doesn't skimp in this respect, despite being the smallest and cheapest Volvo to be offered. In addition to the front and side airbags and safety belt tensioners, standard safety equipment includes the Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) and extra side airbags that include the Inflatable Curtain (IC) that protects front and rear passengers.The Volvo C30 will also be available - but not standard - with BLIS, otherwise known as the Blind Spot Information System, which helps the driver to identify another vehicle in the blind spot at the rear/sides of the car.

Though Volvo is yet to announce specific performance details for the new hatch, all models are rumoured to be offered in front-wheel drive configuration, with some models available with AWD. Powering the new C30 will be a range of 4- and 5-cylinder engines, beginning with the 1.6-litre 4-cylinder petrol and diesel motors, producing 73 and 80 kilowatts respectively (100 and 109 horsepower). In addition to the entry-level engines, two 5-cylinder engines will also be offered, the D5 diesel, which generates 132kW (180hp), and the T5 petrol engine, a 2.5-litre turbocharged 5-cylinder engine that makes 162kW of power.

"A car that exudes dynamic design must live up to the promise of its looks when you are behind the wheel," added Håkan Abrahamsson. "Therefore, the C30 has a chassis that offers sporty driving characteristics, regardless of whether you choose the 1.6-litre diesel or the T5 engine."

Now the ball is in Saab's court. Will General Motors give Saab the okay to build a C30 rival?