The rest of the C30 is akin in design to any other new-shape Volvo, with
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| Like the tapered body, the C30's 'waterfall' snout is borrowed from the 3CC Concept. (Photo: Volvo Cars of Canada) |
a prominent, soft-formed nose, inset headlamps and strong creases on its hood. The new prototype steps up the bar on the S60, V70 and S80, however, with regards to regular Volvo design with its 'waterfall' treatment on the car's nose - notice how the hood's shape flows over the grille and down the front valance in one sweeping motion, unlike the current cars that have a distinctive, separate bumper. The 3CC concept car started this design trend, and aids in the C30's sleek shape. To dress up the little coupe's shapely exterior panels for its debut, Volvo has added a sporty bodykit with muscular front and rear valances, and pumped up fender flares, all outlined in Very Bronze paint to contrast the Quite White bodywork.
Underneath the skin lies the Ford-derived C1 platform that currently underpins the Mazda3 and 5, the European-market Ford Focus, and most importantly the superb S40 and V50 compact premium sedan and wagon. To make the C30, Volvo has sliced off a good portion of the C1 chassis' mid and tail sections, making it 228 mm (8.9 inches) shorter, for a grand total of 4,239 mm (166.9 inches). Yet, to maintain its sporty demeanor, the C30 has been widened slightly.
The
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| Two bucket seats replace the standard bench. Space is expected to be tight in back. (Photo: Volvo Cars of Canada) |
downside about the size-reduction operation is that the C30 has a small cabin and trunk. While this might pose a problem for a family-oriented hatchback, the C30's sporty demeanor lends itself to buyers that rarely use the rear seats (the automaker has the V50 and upcoming XC50, among others, for this crowd as it is), giving Volvo interior designers a clean canvas to experiment with. Instead of using a rear bench, the C30 features a pair of bucket seats, which have been positioned closer to each other to fit in with the tapered bodywork. As for the trunk, it's large enough to accommodate everyday items, such as briefcases and groceries, and even a bulky sports bag filled with hockey gear in a pinch - but that's about it. A much larger load can be carried once the rear seats have been folded over, though, but just how much won't be revealed until the car hits production.
