| For the past ten years, Volvo has been moving | | | | decreases the headspace for anyone sitting on |
| away from their reputation of making boxy | | | | the second row. |
| cars. While the original design is an effort | | | | |
| of the company in relation to their "safety | | | | While the design of the car has been given |
| first" philosophy, competition have upped the | | | | much attention, the performance has also been |
| ante in terms of designs in an effort to | | | | given the same thought. The coupe's |
| attract younger buyers that will remain loyal | | | | powerplant is a turbocharged five-cylinder |
| to them. The logical step therefore is for | | | | engine which can provide up to 218 horsepower |
| Volvo to design stylish car in consonance | | | | and coupled to either a six-speed manual or a |
| with today's standards. But the effort to | | | | five-speed automatic transmission depending |
| alter their tried and tested design must be | | | | on what the customer opts for. Both |
| done while still keeping the safety of their | | | | transmissions facilitate the smooth |
| customers in mind. This evolution in the | | | | transition of power from the Volvo |
| design of Volvo cars is apparent in its first | | | | plug-induced combustion in the souped up |
| entry to the compact luxury car market which | | | | engine to the wheels. The engine can power |
| is the Volvo C30. | | | | the car from a standstill to 60 miles per |
| | | | hour in 6.6 seconds and can further give it a |
| The car's exterior, designed by Simon | | | | top speed of 146 mph. Suspension comes in |
| Lamarre, is a testament to the company's | | | | two settings which are the Comfort and the |
| effort to connect with the younger generation | | | | Dynamic which allows the driver to adapt the |
| of car buyers. The Volvo C30 is a | | | | suspension to the terrain he is driving his |
| combination of modern styling and a touch of | | | | over. |
| past styling evident on the coupe's glass | | | | |
| tailgate. The designed penned by the | | | | Safety is once again emphasized by Volvo in |
| Canadian-born designer relies on the long | | | | the development of the car; after all, the |
| rear side windows, rear side panels, and the | | | | Ford Motor Company subsidiary is known the |
| rear window with upright taillights on each | | | | world over by their safety-first attitude |
| side to catch the attention of its | | | | towards car production. The coupe has the |
| prospective buyers. The interior of the | | | | standard airbags and safety belts which are |
| Volvo C30 is designed to impress, with its | | | | the most advanced in any vehicle in the |
| floating center stack as the first thing that | | | | market. It also carries with it two safety |
| anyone will notice upon entering the vehicle. | | | | systems just recently developed and employed |
| | | | by Volvo on their cars. One of the systems |
| The car is essentially a four seater but the | | | | is the BLIS technology or Blindspot |
| compact design of the coupe makes access to | | | | Information System which uses cameras to |
| the second row of seats a little bit hard. | | | | alert the driver if any car has entered his |
| But the car is intended by Volvo to be used | | | | blindspot. Another system being employed by |
| as a two seater with extra luggage space. | | | | the car is IDIS or Intelligent Driver |
| With this in mind, the second row of seats | | | | Information System which will suppress text |
| can be folded down to increase its luggage | | | | messages and non-critical warnings when it |
| capacity to 32 cubic feet from a meager 10 | | | | senses that the driver is working the car |
| cubic feet with the second row of seats in an | | | | hard. The system does this with the aid of |
| upright position. The sloping roof of the | | | | sensors that checks the steering, throttle, |
| coupe limits the view to the rear and | | | | and brakes and turn signals. |