Through Ian's Lens: 2008 Volvo C30 R-Design

While reading comments on our blog during the second media day of the New York International Auto Show, our chief blogging officer, David Thomas, spotted something interesting under Joe Wiesenfelder's post on the Suzuki Concept Kizashi 3.

"Off topic, but can you take some pictures of the Volvo C30 R-Design while you're there? Ian takes some of the best auto pictures I've ever seen (way better than Autoblog and Jalopnik), and the pictures at Autoblog just aren't doing a good job of showing me how it's different from that standard C30." - Brian E.

Well Brian E., it's your lucky day. While I can't truly answer your question about the differences between the regular Volvo C30 and the more expensive Volvo C30 R-Design, I can tell you that it is one sweet machine. Design note: Watch for the etchings in the center stack near the radio as they repeat across the entire center console. It's pretty spectacular. A set of photos is below.

Cars.com Faceoff: 2008 Mini Cooper S, Saturn Astra, Volvo C30

In one of the toughest Faceoffs in recent memory, Mike Hanley, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder matched up three premium hatchbacks. It was a tough fight, with each car having strengths that won us over. The Volvo had the style, the Mini the go-kart goods and the Astra the practicality. Check out the winner and let us know if you think we got it right.

Cars.comparison: Premium Hatchbacks

Play Ball: Boston Red Sox Special Edition Volvo C30

We’ve seen more special editions than we can count here at Cars.com. Usually they’re just gussied-up versions of aging models meant to help them sell better. Volvo’s latest special offering, however, is a whole new ballgame. The company has a partnership with the Boston Red Sox and is building a limited run of its new C30 hatchback to commemorate the team’s championship season in 2007.

Volvo will build 107 of the C30s, in reference to the team’s 107 wins in ‘07. Each will have a plaque telling owners which of the 107 wins the car is commemorating. They’re finished in Passion Red paint with team logos on the fenders and rear glass hatch, as well as on the floormats. There’s also matte-silver finish on the mirrors and grille, plus a hefty array of features, including an alarm, fog lights, heated front seats, sport shifter and pedals, and a beefed-up audio system. 

All the special editions come with a five-speed automatic and 227-hp, turbocharged five-cylinder engine and will cost $29,465, not including a $745 destination charge. That’s compared to the C30 2.0’s MSRP of $25,700. Of course, the special editions will only be sold at select New England Volvo dealers. A few more photos are below.

Volvo Is Upscale Enough

Sometimes we sit around the Cars.com office and just scratch our heads when we hear what car companies are doing. In yesterday’s Detroit News came word that Ford is looking to make Volvo — Ford owns the Swedish automaker — more of an upscale luxury brand to better compete with BMW and Mercedes-Benz. If you thought Volvo was already a luxury car company, it’s technically considered a near-premium brand. The differences are hard to explain, but recent Volvos I’ve reviewed were roughly $10,000 less than their BMW and Audi counterparts despite having similar features and engines. Other near-premium brands are Saab, Cadillac, Lexus and Infiniti.

Now, Ford has the best of intentions … for it. The company needs to make more money off Volvo, which continues to be unprofitable despite an improved lineup. However, with Audi already making inroads into BMW and Mercedes-Benz territory, is there room for another company to do the same?

Volvo to Make HD Radio Standard for 2009 Models

In manufacturers’ constant arms race to include better perks for drivers, Volvo will make HD radio receivers standard in almost all of its models beginning in the second half of 2008.

Still in relative infancy, HD radio promises better sound quality than standard radio and offers vastly expanded programming. This includes access to news, weather, school closings and other emergency information right on the display screen.

Far from a monolithic set of stations with the same programming whether you’re driving in Seattle, Kansas City or New York, HD radio varies geographically, offering different stations in different locations that will remind listeners of the quaint ways of old-fashioned AM/FM radio. Across the country, radio stations are making the switch to HD broadcasting. Nearly 2,000 stations either broadcast in HD or offer HD2 multicasts on the FM dial with no subscription fee.

While reception may be spotty in certain areas, that won’t be so different from driving through west Texas trying to find a decent classic rock station.

Interestingly, there are a few exclusions in Volvo’s list of models that will have HD radio. Not listed are the base S40 or V50, nor is the S60. That makes us wonder whether the S60 will be around in 2009.

Friday Fleet Notes: 10.19.07

This week we get feedback on quite the cross section of cars. From the sporty Volvo C30 hatchback to the Mazda CX-9 crossover to the aggressive Dodge Viper, the staff was hopping in and out of some diverse vehicles that recently got the full review treatment on Cars.com.


2008 Volvo C30

• The outrageous Volvo S60 R, now discontinued, probably raised my expectations. The C30 is no S60 R. Neither is it a Volkswagen GTI, but it is a fun car and a nice size. The steering isn’t the best attribute, but saying a Volvo has numb steering is like saying a Hell’s Angel has a tattoo. Having driven it, I still have sticker shock – the good kind, but I wonder if they shouldn’t bring over one of Europe’s smaller and more efficient (please, more efficient) four- or five-cylinder engines and sell it cheaper still. That might be asking too much. Making a car look distinctive isn’t easy these days, so I like the C30’s easily recognized rear window and shape. — Joe Wiesenfelder, senior editor

The Urban Dink: 2008 Volvo C30

Finally! A car in the fleet that fits the theme of this column perfectly. I’ll admit there were others I could’ve squeezed in from this point of view but in the end, I think the wait was well worth it.

You can’t talk about the Volvo C30 without keeping it in the context of its two main competitors: the Volkswagen GTI and the Mini Cooper S. Neither of those cars has won me over completely, even as The Urban Dink, mainly because they both have harsh rides — to help with performance — that are not the most fun to live with from day to day. For me — and just me here — I need some more compromise on that front. That’s where the C30 wins points, big time.

This Week in Ask.cars.com

One of our favorite groups of cars is the semi-luxury sport compact class, and with the new C30 on the market, we answered a question about what’s the better value between the new Volvo hatchback and its competition. We also dipped into a good portion of vehicle segments this week while responding to your questions – including the compact, minivan, SUV, hybrid, crossover and sports car classes. If you have your own question, head over to Ask.cars.com and submit one.

• What's a better value: the Mini Cooper S, Audi A3 or Volvo C30?
• Are any minivans coming out with hybrid engines?
• What is a “crossover” vehicle?
• How long is the engine break-in period on my new car?
• How long do hybrid batteries last?
• What is the difference between a Mustang GT and a Mustang Cobra?
• What SUV can tow 4,000 pounds and get good mileage?

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Volvo C30

Mike Hanley — that lucky son of a gun — got to put Volvo’s hot new hatch to the test for his latest review. The C30 turns out to be one of the better-handling Volvos we’ve seen in some time, and its standard turbocharged five-cylinder engine is surprisingly sporting. Can it hang with the Mini Cooper S and VW GTI, the current kings of the class? You’ll have to read to find out. Oh, and of course there’s a quick video recap of the glass hatchback, too. 

2008 Volvo C30 Expert Review

2007 Frankfurt Auto Show: Volvo ReCharge Concept

• Looks like: A Volvo C30 with green wheels
• Defining characteristics: 66% fewer emissions than today’s best hybrid car
• Ridiculous features: Did we mention the green wheels?   
• Chance of being mass-produced: We’d like to see a plug-in hybrid like this as much as the next guy, but there are still lots of issues to be ironed out first. Mainly how much people are willing to spend on very pricey technology.

We can see it now. The horsepower wars that brought us a 300-hp Mustang GT and a new wave of Hemi engines are over. The new battle will be waged in mpg — not hp. We’re probably stating the obvious at this point, but with each auto show that passes we’re seeing more and more attention paid to how technology can increase mileage and decrease emissions. Now that we can go as fast as we can possibly handle anyway, we might as well save some money at the pump.

That’s Volvo’s aim with the ReCharge concept. Based on the C30 hatchback that just went on sale in the U.S., the California-developed ReCharge teams a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with four-electrical motors, one at each wheel. This gives the C30 some gusto: It hits 62 mph in 9 seconds, which puts it about a half-second ahead of a Dodge Caliber R/T. That’s not Hemi speed, but Volvo claims on a full charge, on a 93-mile trip the ReCharge will return 124 mpg.

Volvo C30 Prices Announced

There is news going on at the New York Auto Show. This morning Volvo announced the pricing of its upcoming C30 two-door hatchback. Prices for the C30 Version 1.0 will be $22,700. The C30 Version 2.0 starts at $25,700. Prices do not include a destination charge of $695. Both models feature the same 227 horsepower turbocharged five-cylinder engine, but come equipped with different levels of equipment.

The 1.0 comes standard with 17-inch wheels and that’s about it outside the standard Volvo safety equipment like whiplash protection, side airbags and curtain airbags. The new blindspot warning system will also be an available option. Moving up to the 2.0 adds a 650-watt stereo, 18-inch wheels, larger spoiler and a body kit.

Fans of compact sports hatchbacks will be able to get their hands on the new C30 in October.   

Related:
The New Volvo S80's Blind Spot Detector
All-New Volvo C30 Hatch Coming to U.S.