2010 Volvo C30

C30 T5: $24,100
C30 T5 R-Design: $26,300
Destination: $850

The revolutionary Volvo C30 looks like nothing else on the road - and that's exactly what makes it so compelling to those seeking its unique sense of style. It also delivers an exhilarating driving experience with turbocharged performance and dynamic handling. Yet beneath its sinuous flanks lies the heart of a true Volvo, embodying a fastidious devotion to safety that remains at the cornerstone of Volvo's core commitments to its customers.

In addition to its generous roster of equipment, the entry luxury C30 T5 gains more standard features for 2010. The list includes standard Bluetooth hands-free phone interface, leather gearshift knob with aluminum inlay, leather parking brake cover, trip computer and cruise control.

The R-Design continues as the ultimate expression of C30 dynamism fitted with distinctive styling cues and range topping equipment. Standard features include Off Black Flextech/Crème premium leather seating surfaces with embossed R-Design logo, a special front grille with matte silver surround and R-Design logo, matte finish outside rearview mirrors, R-Design watch dial instrument cluster, unique aluminum inlays, R-Design sport steering wheel and sport pedals. It gains standard Bluetooth, fog lights and trip computer for the new model year.

Volvo has eliminated the Custom Build program for 2010. Some of the previously available features are now offered in new and revised option packages. The new Multimedia Package includes Sirius satellite radio and the Dynaudio Premium Sound System with Dolby® Pro Logic® II Surround Sound, 10 Dynaudio loudspeakers and an astonishing 650 watts. The Preferred Package gains a power driver's seat and Keyless Drive. And the Climate Package adds Electronic Climate Control (ECC), Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) and humidity sensor.

The list of available stand-alone options includes the Volvo HDD navigation system with real time traffic, remote control and map care, the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), a power glass moonroof, leather seating surfaces for the T5 and various hues of metallic paint.

Offered in two models, the C30 T5 and T5 R-Design are powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine that produces 227 horsepower. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard while a 5-speed 'Geartronic' automatic with 'Auto-stick' function is optional. Driving enthusiasts will appreciate that the C30 is 8.5 inches shorter and weighs around 320 pounds less than the Volvo S40 sport sedan. (concept carz) But while the C30 may be shorter, there is still plenty of room for four adults and their gear.

Thanks to its small size and well-thought design, the Volvo C30 is as fun to drive as it is to admire. Its generous front and rear tracks and a relatively long wheelbase contribute to inspiring and stable driving characteristics. The chassis, with MacPherson front suspension and a multilink rear axle, is optimized to provide outstanding control and precise response to the driver's inputs.

The C30 features Volvo's patented front structure. Divided into zones, it incorporates different deformation properties with the outer zones accounting for most of the deformation in a frontal collision. The more the collision forces approach the passenger compartment, the less the material is deformed. To ensure that each zone has the right characteristics, the quality of the steel has been varied. Four different types of steel are used. Apart from normal body steel, three different grades of high-strength steel are used. Different steel grades also are used in the rear to help protect occupants in the event of a rear-end collision.

Source - Volvo

The new Volvo C30 - with a sporty new front and even more choice

The new Volvo C30 steps out and shows the model's full potential and personality. This can be seen in the fresh, self-assured design of the front. And it is emphasized by a wide range of options, including an urbane, bold accessory styling kit.

The C30 is Volvo's most playful and spontaneous car model. It appeals to customers who spend most of their time in the city environment and who impose considerable demands on the car's design, driving properties and personality. The Volvo C30 can be configured in an almost unlimited range of variants thanks to a wide selection of drivelines, design details and equipment levels. And the new C30, which makes its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2009, offers even more choice than before.

'Since its introduction in 2006, the Volvo C30 has become highly appreciated for its unique appearance. This applies in particular to the rear. With the new front, it feels as though everything has fallen neatly into place and that the car's entire personality has been boosted to an entirely new level,' says Daniel Backman, Product Manager for the new Volvo C30.

The new exterior is also a better match for the way the C30 drives - challenging, direct and with a whole lot of attitude.' continues Daniel Backman.

Major exterior changes
The renewal of the Volvo C30 is more comprehensive than is usually the case with Volvo's models. The entire front has been redesigned, including body panels such as the front wings. This gives the car a radical new appearance from the front, carving out a distinctive personality which clearly separates the new C30 from the Volvo S40 and V50.

'By integrating greater depth into the design language, the front has become more dramatic and expressive. Along with the angled lines of the front bumper, the new headlamps, drawn offset and up, reinforce the impression of speed and sportiness,' says Fedde Talsma, Exterior Chief Designer at Volvo Cars.

In the middle of the front is the new, larger iron mark just as in the rest of the Volvo range. The air intake has also grown in size and resembles the intake in the XC60. The grille has a new pattern used solely on the C30.

'The fact that the C30 has enhanced its visual volume and self-confidence is entirely in line with Volvo Cars' design strategy. At the same time, the C30 has a one of a kind expression. The new honeycomb grille, for instance, means it takes just a quick glance in the rear-view mirror to see that the car filling your view is the new Volvo C30,' continues Fedde Talsma.

Although the biggest design changes have taken place at the front, the rear also sports the same deep new lines and detailing. The contours are wavier and more dynamic than before. The black plastic panels have been replaced with more body colour lower down, in the same or a contrasting colour, to forge a closer visual contact between the car and the road surface.

The other new exterior features:

• Elegant and trendy new body colour, Orange Flame Metallic

• Visible exhaust tailpipe in the T5 and D5 models

• Two new wheel options - and for the first time, white wheels are available!

• The option to choose five different colours on the lower trim - the C30 Contrast Colour Collection.

Matching interior updates

'We know that a large proportion, almost half, of all C30 customers make detailed interior choices. They want to decide for themselves what their car should look like and are not interested in readymade packages. The new C30 gives them a range of fresh, modern style cues in terms of both colour and fabric to choose between,' explains Maria Úggla, Program Chief Designer Colour & Trim at Volvo Cars.

'We have also focused on making it easier for customers to match exterior design elements with interior trim in an attractive way, something that has been made that much easier with the new Espresso/Blond colour combination,' continues Maria Úggla.

Yet another new feature is the luggage compartment cover in the rear, which uses a new material and a new graphic pattern to further enhance the car's modern image.

New centre stack - Oyster Burst Déco


Volvo's special centre stack is already available in a range of innovative variants. Now another new option is being added, Oyster Burst Déco. Volvo's design team was inspired by the surface texture of the classic Swedish Hagström guitars that enjoyed world renown in the hands of stars such as Elvis Presley back in the 1950s. Hagström used the word 'burst' in many of its model names and gave their guitars a pattern that shifted subtly from light to dark and back again. Just like in the new centre stack of the Volvo C30.

New expressive accessory styling kit


The Volvo C30 also meets the wishes of buyers with a broader car design interest. A youthful new accessory styling kit with a bolder, less polished style gives the C30 even more attitude. The kit includes foglamp décor, a front skidplate, side scuff plates with engraved C30 logo and a rear skidplate with a stylish aluminium look. For D5 and T5 two 90 mm tail pipes in polished stainless steel are added to underline the powerful engine.

The exterior detailing is complemented by a dramatic interior where the pattern of the floor mats forms a world map. The aluminium centre stack, including inner door handles, is inspired by an ancient nautical chart and a sea adventure map. Its pattern shows longitude and latitude lines as well as dashed direction lines to further emphasise the explorer theme.

New sport chassis with excellent characteristics

Drivelines - considerable freedom of choice here too

The Volvo C30's sporty chassis and steering can be combined with a particularly wide range of drivelines covering the full spectrum of needs from sparkling acceleration and performance to diesel engines with class-leading low fuel consumption and environmental impact.

C30 DRIVe with start/stop function

As of spring 2009, the Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe is available with an advanced start/stop function that switches off the engine when the car is at a standstill, for instance at traffic lights or in a traffic queue. This cuts fuel consumption to as little as 3.9 l/100 km while carbon dioxide emissions are just 104 g CO2/km, the lowest in this segment.

Source - Volvo