What Is It?
Volvo C30 Concept
What's Special About It?
Some 35 years after the debut of the Volvo P1800 ES, the Swedish carmaker is again pursuing the sporty hatchback. Although the production version of the two-door, four-passenger C30 will debut at the Paris show this September, this concept gives us a sneak peek at Volvo's next model.
Aimed at young, dynamic urbanites looking for an entry-level, premium-brand performance car, the C30 is 9 inches shorter than an S40 sedan and will be Volvo's smallest model. From its A-pillars forward the concept resembles the S40, but in profile and out back it's definitely its own car. A tapered roofline offsets the signature broad shoulders, while the all-glass hatchback pays tribute to the old P1800 ES. As Volvo design director Steve Mattin explained, "Our goal was to give…the C30 a hefty dose of muscles in a sporty and compact package."
Under the hood is a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline five that pumps out 260 horsepower and 233 lb-ft and is coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox. With a claimed 0-60-mph time of 6 seconds flat and a top end of 150 mph, the front-wheel-drive C30 would have the gusto to match its looks. Four-piston Brembos with 13-inch rotors are fitted, and the concept rides on 19-inch wheels and 225/35 Pirelli Corsa performance tires.
Four individual bucket seats and a roomy cabin make the C30 a true four-seater and Volvo says there's enough room behind the rear seats for briefcases and sports equipment. For larger loads, both rear seats can be folded flat. The thin, aluminum "waterfall" center stack is a strong styling cue borrowed from the S40 and a powerful 10-speaker sound system by Dynaudio of Denmark provides entertainment that adds to the C30's youthful appeal.
What's Edmunds' Take?
You can either think of it as the new P1800 ES or a poor man's BMW M Coupe. Either way, the C30 is cool. — John DiPietro
Volvo C30 Concept
What's Special About It?
Some 35 years after the debut of the Volvo P1800 ES, the Swedish carmaker is again pursuing the sporty hatchback. Although the production version of the two-door, four-passenger C30 will debut at the Paris show this September, this concept gives us a sneak peek at Volvo's next model.
Aimed at young, dynamic urbanites looking for an entry-level, premium-brand performance car, the C30 is 9 inches shorter than an S40 sedan and will be Volvo's smallest model. From its A-pillars forward the concept resembles the S40, but in profile and out back it's definitely its own car. A tapered roofline offsets the signature broad shoulders, while the all-glass hatchback pays tribute to the old P1800 ES. As Volvo design director Steve Mattin explained, "Our goal was to give…the C30 a hefty dose of muscles in a sporty and compact package."
Under the hood is a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline five that pumps out 260 horsepower and 233 lb-ft and is coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox. With a claimed 0-60-mph time of 6 seconds flat and a top end of 150 mph, the front-wheel-drive C30 would have the gusto to match its looks. Four-piston Brembos with 13-inch rotors are fitted, and the concept rides on 19-inch wheels and 225/35 Pirelli Corsa performance tires.
Four individual bucket seats and a roomy cabin make the C30 a true four-seater and Volvo says there's enough room behind the rear seats for briefcases and sports equipment. For larger loads, both rear seats can be folded flat. The thin, aluminum "waterfall" center stack is a strong styling cue borrowed from the S40 and a powerful 10-speaker sound system by Dynaudio of Denmark provides entertainment that adds to the C30's youthful appeal.
What's Edmunds' Take?
You can either think of it as the new P1800 ES or a poor man's BMW M Coupe. Either way, the C30 is cool. — John DiPietro
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