Volvo unveiled the production version of the C30 three-door hatchback here in Paris, and confirmed that it will be sold in the U.S., possibly as a 2008 but late in the model year. The annual global sales target is 60,000, and 75% of those cars will go to European buyers. Although the company will offer a varied engine lineup in Europe, including a pair of diesels, in the U.S...
it will only be offered with the T5 powerplant, a turbocharged inline five good for 218 hp. You might remember than the identically styled concept car from Detroit
made considerably more power than that (using a version of the S60 R's engine), but the production version of the C30 will still get to 60 mph in "under 6.7 seconds," according to Project Director Hakan Abramson. An R version, he said, is not currently in the works but is possible given the off-the-shelf engine used in the concept.
Chassis tuning will be stiffer than on the S40 and V50, and Abramson says the C30 will keep up with cars like the Honda Civic Si, Mini Cooper S and VW GTI in the corners while offering equal or greater practicality. "From an emotional perspective, I think we're right in there with those cars."
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