Volvo’s C30 might still be relatively new to the market, but that’s not stopping the Swedish automaker from giving it a new face more in line with the just-introduced C70. The more expressive front fascia is joined by a host of minor interior upgrades for the 2010 model year.
The redesigned front end gives the C30 a unique personality separate from the S40 and V50, Volvo says. Swept-back headlamps and a special C30-only grille design help set it apart from its platform mates.
“By integrating greater depth into the design language, the front has become more dramatic and expressive. Along with the angled lines of the front bumper, the new headlamps, drawn offset and up, reinforce the impression of speed and sportiness,” says Fedde Talsma, Exterior Chief Designer at Volvo Cars.
Visible rear tailpipes and revised wheel options round out the exterior changes, although a few new colors are expected to be added to the North American palette.
Inside, the C30 gains a new Espresso/Blond interior color, which matches dark brown and a light beige throughout, while a new Cranberry leather seat option adds some red spice to the interior.
A new luggage cover for the rear cargo area has also been added and the center stack can be optioned out in Oyster Burst Deco, which Volvo says was inspired by Swedish Hagström guitars used by Elvis Presley, among others.
Although the powertrain essentially carries over, a new optional sport chassis has been re-engineered for more precise steering and stiffer springs – at least in European configuration. We’ll have to wait for official data on North American models.
Volvo also released an R-Design trim package for the C30 (as previewed in the red car below in our Frankfurt Motor Show live images).
09/15, 10:39 AM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
Too bad they didn’t fix the rear instead of the front. It still looks old even though it is now refreshed
09/15, 11:17 AM
posted by:
JakeK66
The more I see the rear end on this, the less unique and more awkward and ugly it looks.
09/15, 11:19 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
White wheels- great idea. Those should stay clean for what, the first 30 miles?
09/15, 12:58 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
i don’t like the front, side, rear, or even the inside of this thing!
09/15, 1:54 PM
posted by:
orangecones
I really like this car, and I think the new nose will do it wonders (younger looking). Now they just need to fix the trainwreck of the T5 engine in there which gets nowhere near the performance or the MPGs of more relevant GTI or even the Cooper S
09/15, 5:15 PM
posted by:
SoTXFord
It doesnt look bad, but I dont like the redesign of the headlights… reminds me of how a dog’s face looks when you pull their ears back.
09/15, 7:15 PM
posted by:
KarLoveBoy88
I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes the new standard in hot hatches. Ford should keep them around and base the next gen Focus on it. that way people will know that Ford still exists in the econo department.
09/15, 7:17 PM
posted by:
netguru2000
The car’s cool, as pointed out in other posts they should have spent the money on revisiting the powertrain. In-line 5 is not that fast, and guzzles gas for a car that small.
GTI gets you faster, better gas mileage, better handling.
09/15, 8:20 PM
posted by:
vvmasterdrfan
they did a beautiful job, it looks very aggesive.
even though volvo is in a tight knot with ford, they still managed to keep things fresh..
i do wish they worked on the interior. I’m hoping the 2011 S60 will be so much better
09/16, 12:30 PM
posted by:
pngrant54
Let me be clear. This car is so much better looking then a Golf GTI or “R” version. Other then the front end of a the Golf,which was taken from the Scirocco,the Golf is a “Frumpy” looking box without any styling imagination at all. The only thing keeping me so far from buying a C30 has been it’s mediocure suspension tuning. In every design aspect inside and out the C30 wins hands down over a Golf. If i were VW I would limit the GTI and Type “R” to 4drs. Anything 2dr should be a Scirocco. Now (that) car at least has some style to it. To me the C30 is a lot closer to a Scirocco in terms of agressivness with a dash more practicality. The C30 now has a decent looking front end to offset the great rear end that it has. Now if that sports suspension option is in any way half decent it would be a no brainer for me,especially in “R” guise.
09/16, 4:24 PM
posted by:
Lionwithoutpride
pngrant54-
Amen.