Volvo R-Design Official: Available For C30, S40 & V50

That was quick; a couple of weeks after we first heard about Volvo’s intentions to present a sport package and the Swedish carmaker made it official. The option package will be named “R-DESIGN” (and not R-Line as we initially thought) and it will be available on the C30, S40 and V50 model range as of autumn 2007. The R-DESIGN package offers a range of sports-inspired interior

Exterior design includes an R-DESIGN badge in the front grille, color coordinated body kit, rear or roof spoiler, silver matt finish front grille and wing mirrors, and 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels (18-inch optionally). Interior design includes a two-tone black and cream upholstery with contrast stitching and embossed R-DESIGN logo, leather trimmed steering wheel with R-DESIGN logo, an aluminum center stack, blue instrument dials, sports pedals and tufted dark floor mats with cream leather seams. -Full press release along with a high-res image gallery after the jump

Spice up your Volvo with R-design - the choice for a refined taste

Volvo Cars is now introducing R-design - an exclusive factory-fitted options package for customers who want a car with refined attributes.R-design will initially be available on the Volvo C30, Volvo S40 and Volvo V50 as of autumn 2007.

"The possibility of tailoring one's car to suit personal tastes is becoming increasingly important to car buyers today. R-design has been developed for buyers who want a refined and sporty look for their cars," says Gerry Keaney, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Cars.

Customers can choose between 10 exterior colours, and the R-design badge in the grille is accompanied by a range of specially designed exterior and interior details. Exterior features include a satin matt-finish grille, colour co-ordinated bumpers and lower side mouldings, rear or roof spoiler, satin matt-finish door mirror caps and five-spoke aluminium wheels (17 inches, 18 inches available as option). There is also a decotrim on the tailgate of the C30 and V50.

2008 Volvo C30 & C70: Stronger 230Hp 2.5T & Minor Revisions

Following the revised S40/V50 and the 2008 S80 models Volvo has also announced minor changes for its C30 hatch & C70 Coupe-Convertible for the 2008 year range. Starting off with the common changes, both models receive the updated 2.5Turbo first featured in the 2008 S40/V50 that gains an extra 10Hp delivering now 230Hp.

Separately now, the C30 will be offered with a 1.8 Flexifuel engine (capable of running on bioethanol E85) and a 180Hp D5 Euro V compliant engine with six-speed manual transmission. The C30 also benefits from new hazard lights that are automatically activated if any airbag is deployed and a new EBL (Emergency Brake Light) function flashes all three brake lights five times a second to warn following drivers during an emergency braking manoeuvre. Exterior-wise, three new colours are available and the Volvo iron mark badge has increased in size by 50 per cent on the front grille. Inside, the RTI navigation system is now on hard disk for faster function and a hard load cover is now available as an option. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

The 2008 C70 features revised controls in the centre console complemented by a multi-function centre tunnel storage area, a more compact handbrake design, and a new armrest that’s longer and further forward for better driver comfort as well as offering a larger storage area. Other changes include more dynamically styled instrument panels for the T5 and D5 models and a new hard drive-based RTI road traffic information and satellite navigation system. As you’d expect, Volvo also offers four new exterior colours and a new matt real wood interior inlay, called Nordic Light Oak.

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Volvo’s C30 Campaign Website: Rates 10 on Carscoop’s Cool o’ Meter

An anonymous tip led us to this very witty and interactive website dedicated to the brand new Volvo C30 hatch. It features all the TV advertisements (about 16) for the C30 and asks the viewers for their opinion with the same question in all of them- “What do you think?” Then it asks you to rate each commercial. Don’t be surprised if you see a few of these ads floating around on TV in the near future. Our favorite ones were the “It makes me feel like a real man” and “From this angle”. This is the perfect “waste the last hour at work doing nothing” sort of website. Let’s see if we’ll enjoy the new C30 as much as we did its campaign site. Link: www.volvocars.com/freewill

Technorati: Volvo+C30, commercial, TV+add, outube, videos, autos, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, images, blogs, 2007

Volvo C30 - Heico Sportiv HS3 D5 to debut at Essen Show

A few weeks after presenting a trio of C30 based concepts at the SEMA show, Volvo specialist Heico Sportiv is crossing the pond as its preparing to premiere yet another C30 based model in the Essen Motor Show in Germany. But this time Heico’s souped-up C30 is the real deal.

More specifically, the Heico HS3 D5 features a full body kit with front and rear bumper spoilers, side skirts, and fender flares. In the interior Heico’s C30 benefits from two-tone seat and door panels and a series of interior accessories, including a pedal set, foot rest, hand-brake lever, and door pins, all in aluminium.

In terms of mechanics, Heico’s program for the C30 includes a height-adjustable suspension kit, 4-tip stainless steel exhaust, 4-piston sports brake kit and most importantly, an engine kit that raises the 5cylinder diesel’s power from 180 to 205 Hp and torque from 350Nm to 400NM.

According to Heico, that's good enough for a 0-100 km/h time in 7,9 sec and a max speed close to 230 km/h. All Heico Sportiv products for the C30 will be commercially available in 2007

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2007 Volvo C30 Promotional Video

The Swedes didn’t let time go by as a day after the press release came out, the first promotional videos emerged on the internet. To read the official press release and see the first pictures check out this previous post: 2007 Volvo C30.

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2007 Volvo C30 Official Press Release

Premium Hatchback, 4 Individual seats, 4.25 m Length, S40 / V50 based, 109 Hp 1.6 petrol, 180 Hp 5cylinder D5 Turbo Diesel & 220 Hp 2.5 T5 Turbo engines

A few days after the first photographs of Volvo’s 2007 C30 leaked on the internet, the Swedes came out officially presenting their all new premium hatchback which will rival cars like the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series, VW Golf etc. The stylish C30 will be available in Europe in December with fourengines, a basic 100 Hp 1.6 petrol & 109 Hp 1.6 diesel, a 180 Hp 5cylinder Turbo diesel and a 220 Hp 2.5 Turbo petrol (the same as the European Ford Focus ST). Officially, the Swedish premium hatchback will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September

Comments: Fredrik Arp, CEO Volvo: “The new Volvo C30 is a cool car. A car that aims for a group of young singles, or couples, with busy urban lives. 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 programme to make it possible for new, younger customers with a busy lifestyle to choose a Volvo with the right appeal as early as possible”

Press Release Dynamic design. Individual style: The design of the production-ready model closely resembles the Volvo C30 Design Concept, which was first shown at the Detroit Motor Show in January this year.

In profile, the sloping roofline and distinct wheel arches give the new Volvo C30 a dynamic silhouette, enhanced by the extreme curve of the side windows as they taper towards the rear. The car’s distinctive Volvo shoulders are powerfully rounded and accentuated by the horseshoe-shaped lighting pattern around the rear lamps and glass tailgate.

Volvo offers high-class audio systems for the new C30 – and true audiophiles can choose the ultimate Premium Sound system, with a digital 5x130W ICE Power amplifier from Alpine®, Dolby® Pro Logic II Surround Sound, and 10 Dynaudio® speakers.

Room for four adults: The new Volvo C30 has room for four adults thanks to the two separate folding rear seats with generous head and leg room. The rear seats are slightly centred to provide a feeling of space and a good forward view. The space between the seats also makes Volvo’s unique, ultra-thin centre stack clearly visible through the glass tailgate.

Performance: engines from 1.6 (100PS) to T5 (220PS): The new Volvo C30 has a wide selection of engines, ranging from a 100PS, four-cylinder 1.6-litre petrol engine and a clean, efficient four-cylinder, 1.6-litre diesel with 109PS, to the five-cylinder D5 diesel and T5 petrol turbo engines, providing 180PS and 220PS respectively.

At 4.25 metres long the C30 is the smallest member of Volvo’s model range – 22cm shorter than the current smallest Volvo model, the Volvo S40 saloon.

First class safety: When it comes to safety, the C30 is a true Volvo. Combined with airbags and safety belt tensioners, the Volvo C30 offers first class safety. The standard safety equipment naturally includes the Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) with side airbags and the Inflatable Curtain (IC).

The Volvo C30 will also be available with BLIS (Blind Spot Information System), which helps the driver to identify another vehicle in the blind spot at the rear sides of the car. The front has the same patented structure as the Volvo S40 saloon or V50 Sportswagon.

Production and volumes:The global volume target for the new Volvo C30 is 65,000 cars per year. Volvo expects that 75 per cent of the buyers will be in Europe and the largest markets will be Italy, Germany, Spain and United Kingdom. The car will be built at Volvo’s Ghent factory in Belgium and is expected in UK showrooms at the turn of the year.

The Volvo C30 SportsCoupe is a welcome addition to the Volvo C-range, complementing the recently launched Volvo C70 coupe/convertible. The stylish Volvo C30 will appeal to a wide range of customers and competes with other compact premium models typified by the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3.

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Volvo C30: Official Pictures of Production Model Leaked

An online leak which lead to the premature unveiling of nearly half a dozen of pictures has spoiled Volvo’s official presentation of it’s brand new compact hatchback, the C30. The Swedes had planned to surprise the public by unveiling the C30 next week.

Due to be launched at the Paris Motor Show in September, the C30 will broaden the Volvo range, giving the Swedes a serious contender against the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf etc.

The styling of the C30 production model remains loyal to the homonymous design concept presented at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January.

Based on the Volvo S40 / V50 platform (which in turn, is based on the Ford Focus generation II platform), the C30 will be available with the same engine range that include 4 & 5cylinder motors (1,6, 1,8 & 2,4 litre). While the C30 design concept was equipped with a 260 Hp 5cylinder 2.4 turbo, the top production version is said to wear the Ford Focus 2.5 Turbo engine that will produce about 220 Hp.

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