While we’re already gassing up the Autoblog Gulfstream in anticipation of this year’s North American
International Auto Show, it’s still a ways away. However, Spanish language publication El Diferencial has
seen fit to drop a bit of Christmas/Chanukkah/Kwanzaa/Festivus cheer the enthusiast’s way, with what appears to be
an advanced showing of Volvo’s C30 concept slated to debut at to debut at January’s NAIAS.
Said to be ‘spot-on’ Volvo’s forthcoming compact hatch entry, the C30 is based upon Ford’s C1 architecture, which
underpins the superb Mazda3 and the Swedish firm’s S40 sedan and V50 wagon– no bad thing. It also lurks under the
not-for-U.S. consumption Ford Focus… but don’t even get us started about that nonsense. As expected,
styling cribs heavily from both the SCC and 3CC concept cars, both of which in turn borrow liberally from
Volvo’s classic P1800 ES.
Set to go on sale in 2007, expect the C30 to make use of either a twin-cam four or Volvo’s surprisingly
charismatic trademark 2.5L five-banger, which plays to good effect in the S40. A C30 with hybrid
drivetrain is also possible. When it hits U.S. shores, it will mix it up in a reinvigorated European hot
hatch market, dicing it up with the Audi A3, Volkswagen GTI and MINI.