Volvo is debating as to whether to equip their new C30 coupe with AWD (among other gizmos). I sure hope they do, as I'm a huge fan of all four wheels clawing for traction.
Hakan Abrahamsson, the C30's project director, says a turbo-five is the most attractive option because of the performance premium.
Debate rages within Volvo about whether to equip the car with all-wheel drive...
Abrahamsson prefers not having it, even though it would help with traction.
"Small, light and quick equals a handling advantage," he says. "Every kilogram counts in speed and fast handling. You may get ultimate traction with all-wheel drive, but it's heavier and less agile."
Hmmm... I guess he hasn't driven a WRX.
"Small, light and quick equals a handling advantage," he says. "Every kilogram counts in speed and fast handling. You may get ultimate traction with all-wheel drive, but it's heavier and less agile."
Hmmm... I guess he hasn't driven a WRX.
carlisimo says:
03:23 PM, 01/25/06
I prefer light FWD than heavy AWD. It's worked very well on Hondas.
But I don't know if the C30 would be light, if it were FWD. If it's going to be heavy no matter what, might as well make it AWD. On the other hand, it's probably not going to be an AWD system that's performance oriented (I need to read up on that, but magazines like Sport Compact Car deride VW/Audi's system while lauding Subaru's). Then there's Volvo's stability control systems... they're harsh, as befits the brand.
In the end, Volvo needs to remember its focus and its audience. Unless it's building a low-volume halo car (which this shouldn't be), it should price it cheaper than the S40. It should be a lot of fun to drive, and that'll be an important part of the C30. But I can't see people buying it as a track car, so performance numbers shouldn't be an objective.
roc312 says:
06:29 PM, 01/25/06
The WRX and the Evo are proof that small, powerful AWD vehicles will sell in greater than anticipated volume. Volvo will be missing a large part of the market if they do not offer the C30 with AWD. Personally, I would purchase a turbocharged C30 with AWD, but not FWD.
tryan says:
04:23 AM, 01/26/06
Since this car will be directly competing witht the likes of the Audi A3, I would say that it would be beneficial to offer it with AWD as Audi has plans to bring an A3 Quattro here soon. Offering the C30 in only FWD wouldn't exactly be a disaster, but Volvo would be limiting their market relevance against the aforementioned Audi and others like the Subaru and it's twin the 9-2x.
It all comes down to how much it would cost to produce "x" amount of variations of the C30 versus the payoff on sale profits.
Personally, I would probably jump at the chance to buy a C30 T5 AWD - especially if it undercut the A3 in price. That is, unless Volvo is thinking about offering a C30R with the 300HP T5 engine...=)
ateixeira says:
02:23 PM, 01/27/06
Volvo's FWD cars bore me to death. There's just nothing to get excited about.
It had better have AWD or people will cross-shop it with the much cheaper Mazda3 and Scion tC, and maybe the Golf and base A3.
The MazdaSpeed3 will be FWD and outperform it anyway, so it should really be AWD just to distinguish itself from that model.
skred says:
10:40 AM, 08/21/06
Give it a 40mpg+ option, AWD option and add leather. FWD would be dependent on weight distribution. Smaller car, so shift SHOULD be less noticeable. Also will need enough HP w/o AWD to get up a hill in snow. A 4cyl. Golf can do it, so should this.
Need a car in the high mpg category that isn't boring. Prius and Civic bore me to tears and look like a college kid owns them. Keep the goodies in it but upscale the upholstery. (Judging on the pics on Volvo's website). If they up the MPG or driving range, they could knock the new/returned VW Rabbit off the map.
Volvo has the potential to offer a range on this: From cheap econobox to performance pocket rocket, depending on how you want to load it up.
I also only saw it as an automatic (Volvo website pix). NEED a standard transmission option in a car this small.
A lot of potential if they don't blow it.
almostarctic says:
07:35 PM, 10/16/06
I would buy one too in an instant if it had standard transmission and AWD as a package.
I have a shortlist for my next car which consists of Golf/Rabbit, new Mini, Impreza and now C30. Hopefully they don't give us a low base model with only the option of a premiumed package. THere are some bells and whistles which I'm not willing to pay for. But it's snowing now and we're not out of October yet. AWD is mandatory which leaves C30 and Impreza... I eagerly await at my dealership.