What is it? Many target customers for Volvo's C30 concept weren't even born yet when Volvo last marketed a car aimed at a similar demographic. The Swedish carmaker says its sleek new four-seat hatchback is aimed at "fairly young, successful, active people" attracted to the brand but unable to find anything appealing at the Volvo store. The aggressively styled C30 draws its lineage from both the Volvo safety car concept (SCC) shown last year at Detroit, and the two-seat P1800ES of the early 1970s. Said to be based on a shortened S40/V50 front-wheel drive platform, the C30 is likely to get the 2.5-liter, 218 horsepower, turbocharged five-cylinder engine and choice of five speed automatic or six-speed manual transmissions from the S40 T5. Either combination should be enough to make the coupe capable of keeping up with the fast-paced lifestyles of its upwardly mobile buyers. Volvo is counting on the C30 to attract new customers to the brand to help meet a sales goal of 600,000 cars a year.
What is new or notable? When the C30's buyers have kids, Volvo will be ready.
CR Take: The rear glass hatchback is reminiscent of the long-defunct Volvo P1800ES. Upscale European hatchbacks, like the BMW 318ti and Mercedes C230K, haven't sold well in the United States, so it will be interesting to see how well the Volvo is received. We hope that it will offer driving dynamics akin to the Mazda3 and European Ford Focus that share this platform.
