Volvo Car unveils the C30 Design Concept as a clear precursor to its future small car - the C30. The C30 Design Concept is a sporty three-door, four-seater. It is not a coupe, as the C classification might imply.

"Our aim is 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.

The C30 Design Concept is designed to accommodate the unexpected with a versatile interior that is also aptly roomy for four adults. This small Volvo is perfectly suited to the cosmopolitan lifestyle.

The overtly muscular exterior wears a contrasting combination of two colours - Quite White and Very Bronze. The C30 Design Concept noticeably reflects several exterior design elements from the Volvo Safety Concept Car (SCC) revealed in 2001. An example is the rear glass area, which lifts up to access cargo space.

And it is the C30's tail that instantly reminds us of a very special Volvo.

ES-inspired tailgate
The dynamic front is characterised by the angled headlamps and the low, wide grille.
Looking along the side, the defined wheel arches and the sloping roofline give the C30 a fast silhouette. Curvature through the rear shoulders is very pronounced for a purpose. The C30 Design Concept has stance and casts a presence far larger than its actual size.

"This exclusive and nimble glass tailgate is inspired by the classic Volvo P1800 ES and revisited on the SCC concept car in 2001. The light pattern is so unusual that you'll never be in any doubt of which car you have in front of you," says Mattin.

Seating for four adults
The interior reinforces the athletic abilities of the Volvo C30 Design Concept. The individual rear seats with generous legroom make the car a genuine four seater. The rear seats are slightly centred, which gives the passengers an aura of space along with good visibility to the front.

"The space between the seats also showcases Volvo's super-thin, visually floating centre console, bringing it into full view from behind through the glass tailgate," says Mattin.

Space for luggage - when necessary
The Volvo C30 Design Concept is designed for a customer category that mostly uses the front seats only. The luggage space behind the attractive glass tailgate is designed for everyday loads such as briefcases and sports equipment - with the ability to swallow far larger loads if one rear seat or both rear seats are folded flat.

World class audio system
A first-class audio system is an important part of the driving experience. This explains why the Volvo C30 Design Concept has Volvo's Premium Sound system, with 5x130 W digital ICE Power amplifier from Alpine(R), Dolby(R) Pro Logic II Surround and 10 loudspeakers from Dynaudio(R) of Denmark.

Five-cylinder turbo engine with 190kW
Measuring 4240mm in overall length, the C30 Design Concept is 228mm shorter than the Volvo S40. The shorter C30, though, looks more muscular. The C30 is also 10mm wider - at 1780mm overall - than the S40.

There's plenty of muscle under the bonnet. The C30 Design Concept has an inline five-cylinder 2.5-litre turbocharged engine delivering 190kW at 5500rpm and maximum torque of 350Nm between 2100 and 5000rpm. The concept is equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox as expected in the athletic C30.

Not often do manufacturers make acceleration claims of concept cars, but Volvo does. The C30 Design Concept accelerates from 0-100km/h in 6 seconds and its top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h.

Keeps its promises
The 19-inch aluminium wheels wear Pirelli Corsa 225/35 R19 rubber. There are four-pot brakes from Brembo with aluminium callipers and 330mm ventilated brake discs front and rear.

"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 Hakan Abrahamsson, the C30 Project Director.

Issued by:
Todd Hallenbeck
Public Affairs Manager
Volvo Car Australia
65 Epping Road
North Ryde, NSW 2113
(02) 9020-1613
0412-259-635
Thallen2@volvocars.com