Wednesday 26th July 2006

Volvo goes for Audi A3

Aiming for premium coupé market with C30

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Volvo's latest images of its new C30 coupé show what it describes as "sporty design cues", a glass tail gate and room for four adults. Aimed at buyers of the BMW 1-Series and the Audi A3, the production car retains cues from the C30 design concept released at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year.

The C30 will be unveiled at the Paris motor show in September, with production beginning at the end of 2006. The car will be on-sale in Canada in early 2007.

Performance and features

Engines range from a 99bhp 1.6 to the T5 turbo with a more perky 217bhp. There's a diesel too, a 1.6-litre with 108bhp, to the five-cylinder D5 diesel turbo providing 178bhp.

Volvo offers a digital 5x130W ICE Power amplifier from Alpine, Dolby surround sound, and 10 Dynaudio speakers.

There's room for four adults with two separate folding rear seats, slightly centred to provide a good forward view. The space between the seats also makes Volvo’s thin centre stack visible through the glass tailgate.

Safety

It gets airbags and safety belt tensioners, Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) with side airbags and the Inflatable Curtain (IC).

The Volvo C30 will also be available with BLIS (Blind Spot Information System), which helps the driver to identify another vehicle in the blind spot at the rear sides of the car. The front has the same patented structure as the Volvo S40 saloon or V50 Sportswagon.

Volvo's boss Fredrik Arp described it as "a cool car. A car 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."

[Witchfinder]

Hmmm... I wonder what drivetrain the T5 will have.

[Witchfinder]

Andrew Noakes said:

= Focus ST, I imagine.

That's what I thought. Would be interesting with 4WD though. That engine has serious potential, and with four wheel drive, it could very impressive indeed.