What is it?
2008 Volvo C30
What's special about it?
With the exception of its slightly smaller wheels, the production version of the Volvo C30 is a dead ringer for the concept car unveiled in Detroit last January. But the big news isn't the close translation from prototype to production. It's the fact that Volvo has confirmed it will sell this three-door hatchback in the U.S.
Although Volvo hasn't made a final decision on whether to sell the C30 as a 2008 or 2009 model, it wants to sell 65,000 C30s globally each year, which includes about 10,000 in America. "Our main target group is young singles and couples with intense urban lifestyles," said Volvo CEO Fredrik Arp.
Unlike in Europe, where a range of engines will be offered, the only power plant available in the U.S. will be the turbocharged, inline five-cylinder engine already used in the S40 and rated for 218 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. Six-speed manual and five-speed automatic transmissions will be offered, both routing power to the C30's front wheels. Equipped with the manual, the C30 will get to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, according to Volvo.
Chassis tuning will be more aggressive than in the S40 sedan, because, according to Project Director Håkan Abrahamsson, "Its looks demand sharper steering and a somewhat firmer ride." You can expect to see two different suspension programs on U.S.-bound C30s, as well as a range of wheel sizes, topping out with the 18s worn by all the C30s on display in Paris.
In addition, Volvo will offer an extensive range of interior and exterior color schemes, both monochromatic and multihued to give shoppers the ability to customize their C30s, much as they could on the Mini Cooper, which will be one of the Volvo's chief competitors along with the Volkswagen GTI.
Inside, the C30 feels just as unique as the Cooper. Volvo's ultraslim center stack returns with a new surface treatment, and in back, the two rear seats have been pushed to the center and fitted with freestanding backrests. Combined with the full-glass rear hatch, this seat design yields some of the least claustrophobic rear quarters we've ever experienced in a two-door car. Of course, you can also fold those rear seats completely flat to open up a sizable cargo area.
What's Edmunds' take?
We dig the Volvo C30's unusual styling. If the performance lives up to its billing, we'd much rather spend our days looking at this hatchback instead of the ungainly GTI. Pricing is the only possible snare. An '07 S40 T5 starts at $28,390, and we doubt the C30 will come much cheaper than that. — Erin Riches
2008 Volvo C30
What's special about it?
With the exception of its slightly smaller wheels, the production version of the Volvo C30 is a dead ringer for the concept car unveiled in Detroit last January. But the big news isn't the close translation from prototype to production. It's the fact that Volvo has confirmed it will sell this three-door hatchback in the U.S.
Although Volvo hasn't made a final decision on whether to sell the C30 as a 2008 or 2009 model, it wants to sell 65,000 C30s globally each year, which includes about 10,000 in America. "Our main target group is young singles and couples with intense urban lifestyles," said Volvo CEO Fredrik Arp.
Unlike in Europe, where a range of engines will be offered, the only power plant available in the U.S. will be the turbocharged, inline five-cylinder engine already used in the S40 and rated for 218 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. Six-speed manual and five-speed automatic transmissions will be offered, both routing power to the C30's front wheels. Equipped with the manual, the C30 will get to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, according to Volvo.
Chassis tuning will be more aggressive than in the S40 sedan, because, according to Project Director Håkan Abrahamsson, "Its looks demand sharper steering and a somewhat firmer ride." You can expect to see two different suspension programs on U.S.-bound C30s, as well as a range of wheel sizes, topping out with the 18s worn by all the C30s on display in Paris.
In addition, Volvo will offer an extensive range of interior and exterior color schemes, both monochromatic and multihued to give shoppers the ability to customize their C30s, much as they could on the Mini Cooper, which will be one of the Volvo's chief competitors along with the Volkswagen GTI.
Inside, the C30 feels just as unique as the Cooper. Volvo's ultraslim center stack returns with a new surface treatment, and in back, the two rear seats have been pushed to the center and fitted with freestanding backrests. Combined with the full-glass rear hatch, this seat design yields some of the least claustrophobic rear quarters we've ever experienced in a two-door car. Of course, you can also fold those rear seats completely flat to open up a sizable cargo area.
What's Edmunds' take?
We dig the Volvo C30's unusual styling. If the performance lives up to its billing, we'd much rather spend our days looking at this hatchback instead of the ungainly GTI. Pricing is the only possible snare. An '07 S40 T5 starts at $28,390, and we doubt the C30 will come much cheaper than that. — Erin Riches
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