Merry Christmas: Volvo's C30 Concept
We had to check our e-mail on Christmas morning, didn't we. Since we did, now we have to point toward a pic of what could be the new Volvo C30 concept destined for the Detroit and Paris shows. It's the first such shot we've seen (tho it was posted on one Spanish-language site a few days ago), but it could still be on press embargo, so you'll have to go there to see the whole shot. See you on Tuesday. [Thanks to Michael for the tip.] [Update: El Diferencial found the press release for the C30 concept's Los Angeles unveiling (dated January 4) on Volvo's Spanish-language press site. Looks like someone jumped the gun. Click through for full text.]
Volvo C30 Design Concept [El Diferencial via All Cars All the Time]
Related:
More on the Volvo C30 [internal]
From Volvo's Spanish-language press site (in English):
The Volvo C30 Project zeros in on dynamic customers with active, diverse lifestyles
With the new Volvo C30 Design Concept, Volvo Car Corporation gives the world a taste of the upcoming C30 which has its sights set on giving a young, dynamic customer group its own Volvo.
Los Angeles, California (January 4, 2006) – We know there are large numbers of fairly young, successful people who are attracted by our brand, but who still cannot find a model in our range that exactly matches their taste and lifestyle. The Volvo C30 Design Concept was developed precisely for this group, said Fredrik Arp, President and CEO of Volvo Cars.
From its inception, the Volvo C30 Project was focused on one primary demographic group: Young urbanites with accelerating careers and intensive, active lifestyles. Customer clinics allowed these people to voice their opinions and give their views on the car s design and technical content.
For an active lifestyle, wherever you live
Volvo focused primarily on singles and on couples without children, who regard the car as a tool for pursuing their hectic lifestyles. When they buy clothes, decorate their homes or purchase home electronics, design and brand name are particularly important factors and they choose their cars according to the same criteria.
These customers move in a fast paced world between their homes, work, meetings, the gym and their favorite restaurants and nightclubs in town. Many of them describe their ideal mode of transport as nimble car designed to get them where they want to go. They focus on attractive design and entertaining driving properties and rarely have more than two people in the car, explains H kan Abrahamsson, C30 Project Director.
Design inspiration from the SCC
An athletic, sporty design with two doors, four individual seats and lines inspired by the Volvo Safety Concept Car, makes the forthcoming production model a keen contender in a segment where competition for customers is razor-sharp.
The Safety Concept Car (SCC) heralded a bold design language for Volvo. Its roots could be found in the classic proportions of the P1800 ES, but there was no denying that it was also a Volvo of the future. As it turned out, the SCC is an excellent reflection of our ambition for the C30 project, said H kan Abrahamsson.
Unveiling in Paris in 2006
The Volvo C30 Design Concept, which will be unveiled at the Detroit motor show, offers a taste of what s to come in the forthcoming production model. The wraps will come off the all-new Volvo C30 at the Paris motor show in September 2006, and the car will be successively introduced throughout the world starting at the end of the year. The car is scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. in the summer of 2007.
The all-new Volvo C30 plays an important role in the hunt for sales growth to 600,000 cars a year. It is vital that we broaden our model range so that customers with an active urban lifestyle can choose a Volvo with the right appeal as early as possible, commented Arp.
Volvo has been building cars with Safety in mind for over 75 years. The 2005 Volvo Cars model line-up includes: the award-winning new S40 and its wagon counterpart the all-new V50; the award-winning XC90; the sporty S60 sedan including the award-winning performance sedan S60 R and the performance wagon version V70 R; the flagship S80 luxury sedan; versatile V70 wagon and rugged XC70 (Cross Country); and, the C70 convertible.
VCNA, part of the Volvo Car Corporation of Gothenburg, Sweden, provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the United States, and oversees Volvo operations in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.