2008 Volvo C30
Volvo unveils the C30 to the world, and then announces that the all-new hatchback will come to the U.S. market.
Say hello to the all-new C30 hatchback, due to hit U.S. shores next summer. With a price tag of around $23,000, the C30 will come equipped with four bucket seats, making it a big departure from the usual Volvo family hauler. According to chief designer Simon Lamarre, "The C30 is not for people with kids; it’s a different kind of a Volvo for a different kind of customer."
Volvo has injected the C30 with shots of style and speed. While its face closely resembles that of the S40 and V50 with which it shares Ford’s C1 platform, its sloping rear end bears a shape unique to modern Volvos. With a length of 167.4 inches (8.5 inches shorter than an S40) and a wheelbase of 103.9 inches (identical to S40), the C30 sports short overhangs and an aggressive, fast-forward stance.
The C30 utilizes the S40 T5’s powertrain–a 2.5-liter 218-horsepower turbocharged inline-5 and a six-speed manual (a five-speed automatic will be optional)–and front McPherson strut/rear multilink suspension, which has been firmed up with stiffer springs and dampers.
