This humdrum-looking C30 variant, the 2008 Volvo C30 Efficiency, packs a surprise. President of Volvo Cars Fredrik Arp mentioned it in his opening remarks, but we doubt the glassy-eyed jet-lagged throng of journalists in attendance caught on.
First, the car. The C30 Efficiency sips fuel at a rate below 4.5l/100 km and generates CO2 emissions below 120 g/km...
A trick piece of hardware is the last piece to the puzzle. Volvo calls it Powershift, which is a twin-clutch automated manual gearbox. This is the third such twin-clutch AMT we've encountered -- first the VW/Audi unit, then Mitsubishi's in the Evo X and now Volvo has one.
Twin-clutch units are the most convincing AMTs I've yet encountered since they shift quickly but smoothly. The company claims that Powershift cuts fuel consumption by about 8 percent compared with a conventional automatic transmission. It will be available in the Volvo C30, S40 and V50 with the 2.0-liter turbodiesel (2.0D) engine.
The C30 Efficiency will be introduced in 2008, presumably into European markets first. If nothing else, we expect Powershift will make an appearance on U.S.-bound Volvos in the not-so-distant future. -- Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor, Inside Line
ateixeira says:
01:16 PM, 09/11/07
Low-rolling resistance usually means low grip as well, unfortunately.
Interesting that Volvo spins the C30 as a sporty entry in the segment now, while this goes in the opposite direction. I doubt we'll see it here in the US.
estreka says:
02:56 PM, 09/11/07
Those wheels and rotors look fake, like a cardboard cutout or something.