Paris, France (September 28, 2006) - The all-new Volvo C30 is the smallest and most expressive car in Volvo’s model range. With its solid body, dynamic chassis, coupled with a current strategy that calls for a single engine offer of the powerful turbocharged T5 engine, it will offer a very dynamic driving experience. The interior, which is functionally designed with a number of smart refinements, offers an unexpectedly high level of comfort and flexibility. And, like all of the other Volvos, the all-new C30 has been developed to be a very safe car.
“The C30's efficient design has not prevented us from integrating much of what is best in the larger Volvo cars,” says Håkan Abrahamsson, Project Director for the C30. “Even the smallest Volvo should provide the right premium feel – in all respects. This applies not only to the appearance and the impression of quality, it also applies to how much fun the C30 is to drive and use on a daily basis. Our intention is that the Volvo C30 should attract people who love driving.”
Thanks to its small size and well-thought design, the Volvo C30 will be as fun to drive as it is to admire. It is built according to the same principles as the other Volvo cars: a solid body with generous front and rear tracks and a relatively long wheelbase contribute to giving it inspiring and stable driving characteristics. The chassis, with MacPherson front wheel suspension and a Multilink rear axle, is optimized to provide outstanding control and precise response to the driver's inputs.
218 horsepower and 8.5-inches shorter than a Volvo S40
Putting 218 horsepower to the front wheels, the new C30 is powered by a turbocharged inline five-cylinder engine that produces 236 pound-feet of torque.
Measuring in at just 167 inches in length, the C30 is the smallest member of Volvo’s model range – an impressive 8.5 inches shorter than the Volvo S40 sport sedan – while still retaining the 103.9 inch wheel base, which really pushes the wheels towards the end of the car. “A car that exudes muscular maneuverability must live up to the promise of its looks when you are behind the wheel," says Abrahamsson. "Therefore, the C30 has a chassis that offers sporty driving characteristics, nimble handling and responsive steering.
Interior comfort and flexibility for four adults
The Volvo C30 offers a comfortable and flexible interior with a surprisingly airy feel and generous amounts of room for four adults. Like all Volvo seats, the front seats are ergonomically designed and offer outstanding comfort and support. It is easy to move the seat forward and rearward, for convenient access to the rear seat. The tapered design of the B-pillar also contributes to the easy entrance.
The rear features bucket-style seats that are positioned somewhat towards the center of the car to provide an exceptionally good forward view. This also provides space for storage in the side panels. To provide maximum interior flexibility, the rear seat backrests individually split and fold flat. Folding can be easily done when standing behind the car as well as from the passenger compartment.
The glass tailgate is very convenient and easy to open and close. It offers good access to the cargo compartment. To keep items in the cargo compartment from view, two load covers (soft sided and hard sided) are available as options.
To provide a pleasant cabin climate, air conditioning and a pollen filter are standard in the Volvo C30. It is possible to set the temperature individually for the right and left sides.
World-class audio with auxiliary MP3 player connections
“We have chosen to give the C30 one of the very best factory-fitted audio systems in the world,” says Abrahamsson. “And the design, with its wide doors and deep side panels in the rear, offers powerful bass reproduction.”
Right out of the box, audio enthusiasts will appreciate the Volvo C30's standard 160-watt stereo system. And true audiophiles can choose a Premium Sound system that closely matches the acclaimed system offered in the new C70, with a digital 5x130W ICE Power amplifier from Alpine®, Dolby® Pro Logic II Surround, and 10 loudspeakers from Danish loudspeaker manufacturer Dynaudio®. Total output for the Premium Sound System is an astonishing 650 watts. Simply put, it rocks.
Both sound systems make it possible to play music CDs in MP3 and WMA formats. This means that the CD changer can store hundreds of music tracks.
U.S.-bound C30s will come standard with an input for connecting an iPod, as well as a CD player that can play both MP3 and WMA media. Also available for the upgraded Dynaudio system is the Volvo USB/iPod Music interface. It is easy to connect a personal music player and to control it with the car’s controls, which contributes to increased safety and convenience.
Assertive design provides outstanding visibility
Looking good in the C30 is easy. Looking outside is just as simple. The Volvo C30’s unique design, with its vast expanse of side glass, creates a panoramic view from all four seats. The inwardly curving rear side windows and the unique glass tailgate provide outstanding rearward visibility. Well placed rear seats, with their theater style layout gives passengers in the back a good view through the front side windows.
Advanced information systems offer improved driver control
To make it easier for the driver to detect other vehicles in the blind spot at the side of the car Volvo's Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) will be available as an option. The system uses cameras mounted in the side door mirrors to register if another vehicle is in the blind spot. If a vehicle is detected, a lamp located at the base of the A-pillar illuminates to alert the driver of the situation.
To help reduce the risk of the driver being distracted by untimely information in critical situations, Volvo's Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS) is standard on the Volvo C30. IDIS is an electronic information system that continuously monitors certain functions in the car such as steering wheel movements, accelerator pedal movement, the direction indicator controls, and braking. In demanding driving situations information that is not crucial to safety, such as text messages from the IP, is delayed until the situation requires less of the driver's attention.
Advanced body structure contributes to effective collision protection
“Although the C30 is 8.5 inches shorter than the S40, it has the same safety level as its sedan sibling, even with respect to rear impacts” said Abrahamsson. “The body structure is designed in the same way to contribute to controlled deformation, and the inner protective systems are similar.”
Contact:
Daniel Johnston or James Hope
Product Communications
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC
800-970-0888
