First look: Volvo lifts the C30 lid

VOLVO has issued detailed information and first pictures of its production-ready C30 hatch ahead of the compact three-door’s official public debut at the Paris motor show in September.

Differing little from the C30 Design Concept revealed at the Detroit motor show in January, the finalised C30 enters production late this year at Volvo’s Ghent factory in Belgium, and could go on sale in Australia as early as the first quarter of 2007 - though a second-quarter local release is more likely.

Volvo Car Australia is currently negotiating price and specifications with its Swedish parent, but expect C30 to launch Down Under in 166kW/320Nm turbocharged five-cylinder T5 guise initially, before being joined by 2.4-litre petrol and 134kW 2.0-litre D5 turbo-diesel engine variants.

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Two side doors, "boat-shaped" side windows, flared wheelarches, a sloping roof, a rear roof spoiler, glass tailgate, "horseshoe" tail-lights and twin exhaust outlets give C30 a tough, modern look.

The theme continues inside, where C30 features just four individual seats – the rear pair separated by a "floating" centre stack that echoes the S40-sourced dashboard’s now-trademark hollow centre console stack.

Volvo says the rear wing will be available in two styles, while entry-level variants will come with a choice of three interior trims.

Based on the same S40/V50 platform that underpins the Ford’s group’s Focus and Mazda3 small cars, C30 is about 220mm shorter than the S40 sedan overall at 4250mm and will therefore vie for buyers of Audi’s A3, VW’s Golf, BMW’s 1 Series and the Mini Cooper.

A five-door version is also expected to emerge, but for now Volvo has targeted annual sales of 65,000 globally for the three-door.

In Europe, where 75 per cent of sales are forecast to come from, C30 will also be available with 75kW 1.6-litre petrol and 81kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel power.

Volvo claims first-class safety features, including twin front airbags, Side Impact Protection System (SIPS: side airbags), Inflatable Curtain (IC: side curtain airbags), seatbelt pretensioners, Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) and an optional Blind Spot Information System (BLIS).

"The new C30 is a cool car," said Volvo Cars president and CEO Fredrik Arp. "A car that aims for a group of young singles, or couples, with an intense urban lifestyle. These people prioritise excitement in design and driving characteristics, and this car is designed to suit their taste and lifestyle.

"The new Volvo C30 plays an important role in our push towards a volume of 600,000 cars a year. We are broadening our model program to make it possible for new, younger customers with an intense, urban lifestyle to choose a Volvo with the right appeal as early as possible," he said.

Before it appears in C30 next year, Volvo’s D5 turbo-diesel will debut Down Under in the redesigned C70 coupe-convertible and the all-new S80 sedan.

What’s coming from Volvo:

XC90 V8, D5, six-speed auto – September 2006
C70 coupe-convertible – late 2006
S80 V8 AWD sedan – late 2006