Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Economy, Sports/GTs
Volvo C30 experiences premature release
by John Neff on Dec 28th 2005 at 7:00AM 
We brought you the first official image of Volvo’s C30 concept a couple of days ago, and now our brothers in arms over at Autoblog Spanish have found a couple of additional images at a Swedish online news magazine called Dagens Nyheter. The C30 was supposed to be officially unveiled January 4th right before both the L.A. and Detroit auto shows, but an internal error dispersed some images onto the net where no secret is safe.
Seeing the C30 from a few more angles makes us even more certain the Volvo will have a hot hatch on its hands when the car goes on sale sometime in 2007. Ford’s C1 platform that’s also used in the Mazda3 and Volvo’s own S40 and V50 wagon will underpin the car and Autoblog Spanish reports that the C30 was conceived for unmarried couples without children, i.e. small and utilitarian. Screw utility, we’re thinking that rear hatch is going to make for a decent distribution of weight and turn the C30 into the best handling C1-derived vehicle from Ford yet.
More pics including a shot of the interior after the jump...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
wombo 9:08AM (12/28/2005)
I like it and expect some of the brown cladding weirdness will not make it to production. It is a fine substitute if we can't have the Euro Focus...
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mark 11:08AM (12/28/2005)
This looks like a great car.. have to see how it handles in the real world, and what engine they're going to give to us in the states..
And another thing.. what's with #2's post? Can an Admin delete that junk? sick!
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lastride147 12:05PM (12/28/2005)
I have to agree. I'm not usually one for compact hatchbacks....but I like this one. Think if ever I was in a position to need such a car, I'd definitely consider it. Of course, that's provided its not outrageously priced and underpowered. But a solid looking design so far.
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harry 12:07PM (12/28/2005)
Maybe the brown cladding is indicative of an "Eddie Bauer" edition. One never knows when dealing with Ford marketing.
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Lucien W. Dupont 12:15PM (12/28/2005)
I hope these are actually pictures of the real deal, and not some concept car shots still.. it looks very very nice. Knock on wood that next week proves this to be the real deal.
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n8 3:48PM (12/28/2005)
I think it looks great, but a little too close to an older Civic hatch. I'd like to see a little more Volvo in the design, and I'd like to see 1/2 suicide doors in the rear. They're so practical that it just makes sense to put them on any 2-door hatch that isn't aiming for the super-compact size.
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G. Snyder 6:32PM (12/28/2005)
How does this look like a Civic hatch. other than the fact that it is a hatchback and has 2-doors and 4 wheels? I see no shared design themes.
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n8 10:18PM (12/28/2005)
Really? Looks almost identical on the side and rear as a 2003 Civic SI hatch to me. The nose is different, and the tail a bit...but maybe I've been hittin' the holiday brandy a bit too hard.
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TurboDave 8:18PM (12/29/2005)
I don't know about the interior shot - it is identical to an S40 or V50. For production that makes sense; for a concept, you might think there would be something unique.
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Rey Andujar 8:58PM (12/29/2005)
I have been following the C30 as it progressed from concept to final product. I currently own an S60 for long-distance driving and would consider the C30 the perfect vehicle both for 'fun' drives and short,urban errands. The last vehicle that impressed me this strongly was the Subaru Forester, which I purchased when it first came out and continue to own after over 140,000 miles.
The C30 shows that Volvo is thinking strategically. It is an affordable vehicle for college graduates/ young professionals who, as they become more affluent, will go upscale with a brand that has provided them with a positive impression. It also provides older drivers with a Volvo for down-sizing as their nests empty.
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Jack Yan 6:13AM (1/04/2006)
Let's hope the smaller bodyshell will mean a lighter weight, compared to the sluggish S40 and V50. If it doesn't, then it's not worth the premium over a well equipped C307 Focus.
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Leon 5:52PM (1/05/2006)
n8, ever thought about the Honda Civic looks like a Volvo...
http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/cardata/colors/318.html
"From public sources it is evident that the Volvo 480 was designed and developped before the Honda Accord Aerodeck" ( http://www.volvo480register.nl/uk/index.html )
Most of you in America probably don't know the 480, but there where plans by Volvo of exporting it to America...
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