And will stateside be getting it? Survey says… probably not :-/

Positively brilliant strategy. Let’s finally build a true performance variant to hopefully rekindle some interest in the brand, and then let’s build so few of them you’ll be lucky if the average enthusiast spots one before the calendar is turned over to display December’s Swedish bikini babe of the month.

It’s based on the Focus RS, it will never see US shores.

livelyjay, you are a dumbass. The C30 is already here in the US, based on the same Focus RS platform, and the C30 ALREADY HAS A 2.5L TURBO 5 IN IT.

I like the C30, but have they sold any here? The only one I’ve ever seen is my neighbor’s. Too bad, because it’s a nice looking car, and a nice alternative to the Mini. Now, if they made a 5-dr, then they’d have something there.

Johnny, you can tune a US-stock C30 to 300hp with just a chip and an intake, on the stock exhaust, warranty intact. The only issue here is AWD, and frankly Volvo does not do great AWD. I’ve test-driven a shop-car C30 that was 315 to the wheels (close to 400 crank) and there was little to no wheel hop or torque steer. The only suspension mod was stiffer springs and front and rear sway bar upgrades, so AWD is not a big need here; I’d rather keep the weight lower. 2,900 lbs and 315 whp was a killer.

livelyjay, sorry for calling you a dumbass, I haven’t had my caffeine yet today.

I’ve seen precisely two of these on the road. They don’t sell because these are overpriced.

Really, for the price of a base C30 I’d rather plant my butt in a MazdaSpeed 3.

This is awesome, especilly if I see one

sweeet… better keep the buy-in fairly low though ! It is a competetive market these days…

this is especially exciting. the C30 is gorgeous.

The chassis will be taken from Japanese Mazda3, which was until recently available with a AWD. After all, Mazda’s CX7 chassis is derived from Mazda3’s. Volvo C30, Mazda3 and Focus share the same platform, so this is not really development as much as putting together few already exesting and reasonably compatible bits. And that 5 cylinder engine is derived from Volvo anyway.

I don’t believe C30 needs more horsepower. It did not transfered what “regular” 220 HP motor provides to wheels very efficiently. The car needs to loose some heft and gain some agility along with better power to wheel transfer.

Stupid.

to loose weight would be the best thing for this car, also awd and dc 6 speed,275-350 would be enought…from the new ecoboosted line

This could be a pretty bad ass ride, but I’m sure it’ll probably end up costing like 40k… And if that’s the case that’s too much $…

This is oldddd news, its coming stateside and the Focus RS is based of the C30 not the other way around. Also autonut The Mazda Speed 3 handles just fine with 263hp/280ilbs-ft torque. And the main difference between the RS and C30 suspension wise is stiffer springs, so all suspension parts made for Mazda3, FocusRS will fit the C30. The engine in the FordFocus RS is a remapped version of the C30’s Inline-5 where as the newer C30R is the old P2 chassis S60R’s engine. Big difference, the S60R has a better turbo and manifold setup along with stronger conrods/pistons.

Autonut, the car weighs 2970 lbs. That’s lighter than a HELL of a lot of cars in its size class. The Mazda 3 weighs 3153 lbs. When you consider that the C30 has a bigger, heavier engine and more safety features, you start to wonder why that Mazda 3 weighs so much.

I also don’t understand complaints that the car is “overpriced.” It is expensive, for its size and class, but it isn’t like it is just a Mazda 3 with a bigger price tag. The car is a Volvo, it has an excellent interior, great tech options, tons of safety features (some of them not available on $60,000 sedans) and a totally different engine and drivetrain. It isn’t like the money you spend doesn’t show up in the car itself as materials and design. You act like the price differential between the Mazda 3 or Focus RS (which is not that big) is just money put in a suitcase and thrown over a bridge. Ride in one and then ride in a Mazda 3, the money is right there in the car.

Oh, and those ecoboost motors are the most over-rated crap I’ve ever seen. All bench racing and hype.

The AWD will separate it from the Mazdaspeed3. Also it is a 2-door. But let’s wait and see if it will get to the State first. With 4500 unit over four years, I doubt it, or if it does, it is going to be a collector item.

Good one, a Focus RS with Volvo safety… Erm, wait… the new Focus had the highest safety rating of its class when released.

So… two cars, very similar with different styling.
The difference? Focus RS didn’t get AWD when it should have (bring Cosworth badges back please - we need them!!!) and the Volvo DOES get AWD… *sigh*

Oh man, another Cosworth Focus or Escort… THAT would get Ford back on the sport compact map.

The old true Cosworth is dead, the magic of Cosworth was Cosworth Technology which Ford like a dumbass split into two groups the racing side which is what is still around today and sold the Tech side to Audi which was responsible for the B5 RS4, C5 RS6, 8L S3. The R&D (Cosworth Technology) which was the heart and soul, went onto be called Mahle Powertrain (collabed with Audi for the 8P S3 also). Cosworth nows mainly does easy stuff for the WRX boxer engines and the Evo 4g63 pedigrees.