Chuck Cheeze 24 Jul 06

I love the interior. Looks just like the current S40 and V50. Is it smaller? That flat panel console is dreamy…

kev 24 Jul 06

Hot. Love it.

Benjy 24 Jul 06

So now Volvo’s getting in the game with a small hatch? Mini, Audi A3, upcoming BMW 1-series, etc…

it reminds me of the Volvo 480 they sold from the mid-80’s - mid-90’s in Europe.

Seth Thomas Rasmussen 24 Jul 06

I’ll still take a good train or bus any day. Or a scooter. Perhaps a go-kart.

Benjy 24 Jul 06

So now Volvo’s getting in the game with a small hatch? Mini, Audi A3, upcoming BMW 1-series, etc…

it reminds me of the Volvo 480 they sold from the mid-80’s - mid-90’s in Europe.

Kendall 24 Jul 06

Very slick little vehicle. Any idea if it’ll be available as a hybrid?

Benjy 24 Jul 06

So now Volvo’s getting in the game with a small hatch? Mini, Audi A3, upcoming BMW 1-series, etc…

it reminds me of the Volvo 480 they sold from the mid-80’s - mid-90’s in Europe.

Matt 24 Jul 06

These small hatch’s are immensely popular in Europe though. That BMW 1 that doesn’t (yet) exist in the states is all over.

Bob Aman 24 Jul 06

I agree, I like the exterior a lot, at least compared to virtually every other Volvo ever. But I’m really not a fan of the styling on the interior’s center console.

Erik 24 Jul 06

What I find most interesting about the Autoblog post and this discussion is that nobody has mentioned gas mileage. How could we be talking about the design of an automobile in the year 2006 and not immediately wonder about its fuel efficiency? The car *looks* very well-designed, but these days fuel economy is an integral part of my assessment of any automobile design.

Geoff B 24 Jul 06

I agree with Erik about fuel economy. Design is great, but fuel economy is extremely important.

That said, this is a very pretty car. By the way, someone told me that Ford bought Volvo. Is that true? If so, how integrated are the two companies?

hqnoise 24 Jul 06

The rest of the car is top notch, but the back of the car that’s in the first picture looks really off to me. The tail lights looks like clown eyes and the bumper looks too thin. But hay, I’m no designer.

Erik 24 Jul 06

Volvo has been apart of Ford’s Coporate family for years. Now Ford even has comercials about how Volvo helps Ford make safer cars/ trucks. Volvo’s have good milleage. They sometimes use 5 cylinder engines and turbo to increase efficency. That same engine is in the S40 and it gets 22/32, which is better than my Forester. I owned a 1980 240 which saved my life when I got T-boned by a Box truck, walked away from the accident.

Justin 24 Jul 06

To me it looks a lot like the Mazda 3 5-door. If I didn’t just buy a new car I would take a look at this.

Jeff Croft 24 Jul 06

Totally hot. The only thing I kind of don’t like is the way the taillights extend all the way up to the roof of the vehicle — but it’s kind of a Volvo trademark, so I guess it’s fitting.

Overall, I love it.

Alan Enid 24 Jul 06

It look like modern Gremlin

Jeremy H. 24 Jul 06

Alan hit the nail on the head. It’s a Gremlin. It was ugly then… and it’s ugly now.

I’ll pass.

-j.h.

Joe 24 Jul 06

I wouldn’t call Volvo’s design a “winner”…

ajr 25 Jul 06

In a historical sense, I believe the new C30 is to be the resurrected P1800 ES wagon.

ajr 25 Jul 06

and the linked article says as much… sorry for the regurg…

mika 25 Jul 06

Compared to the current volvo designs this is quite a leap! I like it!

John Topley 25 Jul 06

It’s interesting to observe how Volvo are evolving their design language so that they’re positioned more as a premium brand. Their sophisticated slimline centre console is becoming as recognisable as Audi’s circular air vents or BMW’s short front overhangs.

I love how the S40 looks with its pug nose and Kamm tail. It almost reminds me of a boat in profile.

I definitely think that Volvo have shed their boring boxy image and have overtaken Saab in the desirability stakes.

pj 25 Jul 06

Looks like the old 480.

It’s just a Ford.

Who is going to buy it? Surely young, trendy, well off “yuppie” types prefer a BMW or Audi.

Michael Air 25 Jul 06

Looks horrid. I’d take an Audi, BMW 1 or VW GTI over this Volvo any day :)

Mark 25 Jul 06

So I just switched jobs and, in doing so, switched from walking and public transportation to a drive necessitating new wheels. My former company offered Ford’s Partner Pricing (which applies to the whole Ford family of vehicles) through a client relationship and I snagged a second Ford Focus for the commute.

I’m pushing the 130hp 4-cylinder on the highway, killing hopes of great gas mileage.

If only this had been on Volvo lots in time…

Don Schenck 25 Jul 06

Jason and I BOTH LIKE IT???

Mark this date! It’s a miracle!

(I can envision my kayak on top, my surfboard inside, and my mountain bike on a rack on the back … nice)

Don Schenck 25 Jul 06

Jason and I BOTH LIKE IT???

Mark this date! It’s a miracle!

(I can envision my kayak on top, my surfboard inside, and my mountain bike on a rack on the back … nice)

Michael S. 25 Jul 06

Looks great, except for those taillights. Just a bit too much red for me. Wonder how they’d look if they were just on the C-pillars, ala Ford Focus?

Greg 25 Jul 06

Son of a bitch, they probably won’t sell that here in the States, will they? And it’s not AWD, at least according to the press release.

But for those two things, and as long as the price isn’t stratospheric, I’d be all over it.

Don Schenck 25 Jul 06

Greg — according to your three criteria, you just convinced yourself to buy a Subaru. :)

Sherwood 25 Jul 06

The C30 is based on a Mazda platform that was derived from the Focus’ design (they’re all part of the same family.) Each company gets to apply their own slant on the design. But it’s not GM-style “badge engineering” here - there are actual difference that make a difference, like completely different skins and engines.

And they’re rock-solid - I’ve driven the Mazda3 and S40 as rental cars, and they are close to BMW territory. Not quite there yet, but definitely closer than the $10-20k price difference suggests.

Geoff B 25 Jul 06

“It�s just a Ford.”

To what extent is this true? I posted about this a little earlier, but I’m curious about how integrated the companies are. Are fords and volvos made in the same factories, designed by the same engineers, and so forth - or is it more of a corporate umbrella that bought the two and does a bit of cross-pollination, but leaves the two groups largely separate?

I’m curious, because I actually own a ford focus and a volvo wagon (the focus is 2004 and bought new, the wagon is a 98 and was bought used). They don’t seem any more similar or different than any other car I’ve been in, but that doesn’t say much about what’s under the hood.

Geoff B 25 Jul 06

“It�s just a Ford.”

To what extent is this true? I posted about this a little earlier, but I’m curious about how integrated the companies are. Are fords and volvos made in the same factories, designed by the same engineers, and so forth - or is it more of a corporate umbrella that bought the two and does a bit of cross-pollination, but leaves the two groups largely separate?

I’m curious, because I actually own a ford focus and a volvo wagon (the focus is 2004 and bought new, the wagon is a 98 and was bought used). They don’t seem any more similar or different than any other car I’ve been in, but that doesn’t say much about what’s under the hood.

Anonymous Coward 25 Jul 06

This just showed up in my mail bin…

http://www.volvocars.us/campaigns/MY07/C30/ParisPhase1/C30paris

ARC 25 Jul 06

Geoff, your second thought is closer to the truth. Ford bought Volvo a few years ago, but the companies largely operate independently. Of course, Ford corporate now takes ownership for Volvo’s profit/loss, but the day to day grind in each company is still pretty isolated. They use platforms like the Focus (originally designed in Europe to be a true “world car”) to save on the really expensive parts of the development, but each company has the ability (responsibility?) to build on that platform to create a car true to their brand.

I agree that this is not the “GM-style ‘badge engineering’”, where you simply re-brand a vehicle. Although Ford does this (Fusion vs Milan vs Zephyr), it doesn’t do it with vehicles outside of Ford/Lincoln/Mercury. So, other than structural elements and maybe some standard off-the-shelf technology in the guts, a Ford and a Volvo (or Land Rover, Jaguar, Aston Martin) are not the same.

One last thing: Ford bought Volvo in 1999. Your 98 wagon was designed several years before that. It takes years to develop a car from scratch, which is why only now is there evidence that the two companies are “cross-pollinating”.

Hope that helps.

Ben Metcalfe 02 Aug 06

I saw this car at the British Motor Show here in London. It looks nice, but the people on the Volvo stand were insistant that it was just a concept to research some new design ideas…

…it doesn’t look like this car will be going into production. :(

Baxter 08 Aug 06

As an S40 owner, and longtime fan of the P1800es, I REALLY like this C30.

As for the Ford/Mazda comparisons: Drive both, you’ll see.

As for gas mileage. S40 fuel economy is somewhere between mediocre and miserable. Average in mixed driving is 24mpg, and it wants premium. It is not cheap at the pump.

As for comparisons to Audi, BMW, VW and other brands. Volvo is currently offering better reliability, safety and performance than pretty much any of the competitors. I checked.

As for the interior.. it’s actually amazingly usable as well as cool looking. Surely the hallmark of good design?

All in all, the S40 is among the best handling, most comfortable cars I’ve ever driven (and I’ve driven a LOT). It also has hands-down the best sounding car stereo I’ve ever heard, which is nice.

Since the C30 appears to be nothing more (or less) than a shortened, three-door S40/V50, yeah, I’d be in line for one. In a heartbeat. I do hope they offer it without the turbo/six speed, though. As I’d prefer to NOT spend the money and just go NA with their very nice five-speed.

Neil 10 Aug 06

Long time owner/lover of 72 1800ES, (2 liter/Bosch F.I.) which gets 24 mpg, and drives like a truck. I agree, if the C30 goes hybrid, and can get 30mpg with acceptable perfomance, there are a lot of closet volvo fans who will buy it, even at somewhat of a price premium. Safety + Economy + Performance + Style!

Jennifer 14 Aug 06

I love this car i love the 2 door and it so cheap to

Jennifer 14 Aug 06

I love this car i love the 2 door and it so cheap to

J.K. 15 Aug 06

The car looks great. Now the family are grown up, I don’t need a v40 est. I might change in the new year.
keep up the good work Volvo.

J.K. 15 Aug 06

The car looks great. Now the family are grown up, I don’t need a v40 est. I might change in the new year.
keep up the good work Volvo.

TIM 28 Sep 06

I am a volvo sales rep. at a dealership in chicago, IL ….. I am very excited for this product to hit the ground. The new sleak design and the interior space is going to be phenominal for it’s class! The car is definelty going to hit the ground running !!!!!!!!!!!

Shut the f*ck up 29 Sep 06

Your are all bloody wankers…

Love BMW