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Volvo C30
Design Concept
a smaller Volvo in a nimble
and muscular package
Volvo Cars opens the door to the future at
the 2006
Detroit
Auto Show with a dynamic new small car that harkens back to the
Volvo Safety Concept Car.
Detroit
,
Michigan
(January 4, 2006) – Volvo Car Corporation today unveiled the first
official photos of the Volvo C30 Design Concept. The car represents
a glimpse into the Swedish manufacturer's future as the C30 Design
Concept is a close representation of what the production version of
the C30 will look like when it's officially unveiled at the 2006
Paris
auto show this September.
The Volvo C30 Design Concept features taut
lines and an aggressive stance promoting its sporty image. The
two-door, four-passenger C30 Design Concept is powered by a
turbocharged 5-cylinder engine producing 260 horsepower. The sleek,
modern design clearly reflects several elements from the Volvo
Safety Concept Car (SCC) and the glass tailgate is reminiscent of
the classic Volvo P1800 ES.
“Our aim was to give the Volvo C30 Design
Concept a hefty dose of muscles in a sporty and compact package,”
explains Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin. To that end, the
car's wheels have pushed to the outer corners, making the front and
rear overhangs extremely short. The broad shoulders are Volvo design
hallmarks and add to the C30 Design Concept's forceful presence.
Large car safety in a small car
Volvo's legendary safety is well
represented in the Volvo C30 Design Concept, utilizing the structure
and safety solutions found in the Volvo S40 and Volvo V50. Hence,
the Volvo C30 matches the same safety levels as found in today's
larger Volvo S60 and Volvo S80.
A modern twist on a classic shape
From nearly any angle the Volvo C30
Design Concept combines the classic good looks of the P1800 ES and
the modern Safety Concept Car. The dynamic front clip is
characterised by the angled headlamps and the low, wide grille.
The muscular wheel arches and the sloping
roofline of the C30 Design Concept give the car a striking
silhouette, which is emphasized by the extreme teardrop shape of the
glasshouse. The curvature of the rear shoulders is very pronounced
and further enhanced by the horseshoe-shaped tail light pattern and
the glass tailgate.
“This unique glass tailgate is inspired
both by the classic Volvo P1800 ES and the SCC concept car. The
unusual light pattern ensures that you’ll never doubt what car is
in front of you,” said Mattin. Highlighting the Volvo C30 Design
Concept are two new colors: Quite White and Very Bronze.
Room for four and more
The interior reinforces the sporty
character of the Volvo C30 Design Concept. The individual rear seats
with generous legroom make the car a full four-seater. The rear
seats are slightly centred, which gives the passengers an aura of
space along with good visibility to the front. Behind the rear
seats, passengers have room for the things their active lifestyles
require. The glass hatch allows easy loading access and excellent
rearward visibility.
“The space between the seats also showcases
Volvo’s super-thin, visually floating centre stack, bringing it
into full view from behind through the glass tailgate," noted
Mattin.
Cargo capacity for the fast paced
The Volvo C30 Design Concept was
designed for a customer category that primarily uses the front
seats. The luggage space behind the glass tailgate is designed for
everyday loads such as briefcases and sports equipment – with the
ability to swallow far larger loads if one or both rear seats are
folded flat.
World-class audio system
A first-class audio system is an
important part of the lives of the C30's target demographic. That is
why the Volvo C30 Design Concept has Volvo’s Premium Sound system,
with 5x130-watt digital ICE Power amplifier from Alpine®, Dolby®
Pro Logic II Surround Sound and 10 loudspeakers from Dynaudio® of
Denmark
.
Five-cylinder turbo engine with 260
horsepower
Measuring 166.9 inches front to rear,
the Volvo C30 Design Concept is 9 inches shorter than the Volvo S40
sport sedan. At 70 inches in width, it's slightly wider than its
sedan stable mate (.30 inches).
Under the sculpted hood of the Volvo C30
Design Concept is an in-line five-cylinder 2.4-liter turbocharged
engine. Producing an impressive 260 horsepower at 5,500 rpm the
double overhead cam engine generates 268 lb.-ft. of torque between
2,100 and 5,000 rpm. The car is fitted with a smooth shifting
six-speed manual gearbox that drives the front wheels.
The Volvo C30 Design Concept accelerates from
0-62 mph in 6 seconds and its top speed is electronically limited to
155 mph.
Housed beneath the meaty fenders are 19-inch
aluminium wheels shrouded in Pirelli
Corsa 225/35-R19 tires. There are four-piston, aluminium calliper
Brembo brakes front and rear from Brembo with 13-inch ventilated
disc brakes at each corner.
“Sporty driving characteristics are a must
to attract this customer category. A car that radiates muscular
agility has to live up to its appearance once you slip behind the
steering wheel,” says Håkan Abrahamsson, the C30 Project
Director.
Volvo has been building cars with Safety in
mind for over 75 years. The 2005 Volvo Cars model line-up includes:
the award-winning new S40 and its wagon counterpart the
all-new V50; the award-winning XC90; the sporty S60 sedan –
including the award-winning performance sedan – S60 R and the
performance wagon version – V70 R; the flagship S80 luxury sedan;
versatile V70 wagon and rugged XC70 (Cross Country); and, the C70
convertible.
VCNA, part of the Volvo Car Corporation of
Gothenburg
,
Sweden
, provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training
support to Volvo automobile retailers in the
United States
, and oversees Volvo operations in
Canada
,
Mexico
and
Puerto Rico
.
Contact:
Soren Johansson or James Hope
Volvo Cars of
North America
, LLC
800-970-0888
www.volvocars-pr.com
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