The C30 Design Concept is about feeling invigorated by the youth, by the passion and by the dynamics of Volvo's future small car. The C30 Design Project takes a mindful step forward for Volvo into a new premium market segment.

The three-door C30 Design Concept is obviously not a retrospective design. It is proudly Volvo and carries design cues such as the shoulder and hip lines that in terms of design genetics link it to the S40 and V50.

The C30 Design Concept is a candid insight into Volvo's future C30 Project - which has its sights set on giving a young, dynamic customer group its "own" Volvo.

"We know there are large numbers of fairly young, successful people who are attracted to our brand. But we also know they haven't found a model in our range that exactly matches their taste and lifestyle. The Volvo C30 Design Concept was developed precisely for this urbanite group," says Fredrik Arp, President and CEO of Volvo Cars.

During the evolution of the C30 Project, Volvo interviewed customers during product clinics in several European countries. Young urbanites with accelerating careers and an intensive lifestyle were invited to give their views on the car's design and technical content.

For an active life in the city
Volvo focused primarily on singles and on couples without children, who regard the car as a tool for pursuing their hectic lifestyles. With this customer group, design and brand name are particularly important factors when they buy clothes, decorate their homes or purchase home electronics - and they choose their cars according to the same criteria.

"These customers move at a fast pace between home, work, meetings, the gym and their favourite restaurants and nightclubs. Many describe their ideal car as a runabout - a nimble car to get them where they want to go in style and in comfort and safety. They focus on attractive design and entertaining driving properties and rarely travel with more than two people in the car," explains Hakan Abrahamsson, C30 Project Director.

Design inspiration from the SCC
The customer clinics confirm that Volvo is on the right design and concept path with the new C30 Project. A sporty design with two doors, four individual seats and lines inspired by the Volvo Safety Concept Car, makes the forthcoming production model a keen contender in a segment where competition for customers is intensely sharp.

"At the Milan clinic, one of the participants said: 'At long last an exciting new challenger in the segment, probably my first Volvo.' It's an excellent reflection of our ambition for the C30 Project," says Abrahamsson.

Unveiling in Paris in 2006
The Volvo C30 Design Concept revealed today at the Detroit motor show offers a taste of the forthcoming production model. The covers will come off the production-based Volvo C30 at the Paris motor show in September, and the car will be successively introduced throughout the world starting at the end of 2006.

"The Volvo C30 plays an important role in the hunt for sales growth to 600,000 cars a year. It is vital that we broaden our model range so that customers with an active urban lifestyle can choose a Volvo with the right appeal as early as possible," says Arp.

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