To see one of the more innovative Web sites ever created to complement a new car launch, go to Volvo’s C30 site.

The manufacturer is clearly after younger, fun-loving, intelligent car buyers with an offbeat home page representing the funky-looking two-door C30. The littlest Volvo is destined to stand out in a crowd, with its huge blacked-out hatchback rear window, stylish wheels, a bold, flowing overall design and a base cost of $22,700.

Airbags can deploy from every conceivable nook and cranny, as you might expect of a Volvo. The list of safety features also includes a whiplash protection system that cradles occupants in the event of an accident.

You’d guess four cylinders might be under the C30’s hood, but actually a turbocharged five-cylinder engine resides there, supplying the Volvo with a more than ample 227 horsepower. As a result, it takes 6.6 seconds to move the speedometer from 0 to 62 mph, according to Volvo.

The head-turning C30 is slated to be available in summer 2008.

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Introduction
A midsize entry-level luxury sedan, the 2008 Volvo S60 stands apart from its rivals in many ways. Whereas most of the cars in this segment are powered by normally aspirated V6 engines, the S60 offers turbocharged five-cylinders instead. Styling is also left of center. Even as it enters its eighth year of this model cycle, the S60 still sports a distinctive Scandinavian flavor. The cabin is more functional than flashy, but you’d be hard-pressed to find fault with its solid ergonomics and comfortable, orthopedically correct seats. Where the S60 falls short is in performance — the Swedish sedan’s handling dynamics are a bit dull compared to newer rivals — and in the backseat, where the S60 has less real-world legroom than Volvo’s compact S40.

As the S60 relies upon a turbocharged inline-5 for power, its acceleration can feel a little sluggish compared to competitors like the Acura TL, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G35 and Lexus ES and IS sedans. All those rivals offer the broader power deliver of a larger-displacement six-cylinder engine. And although the S60 rides smoothly, it’s not as composed over bumps as its competition. Though likely satisfying to own thanks to its comfort, safety and Scandinavian personality, we suggest taking a look at newer, better-performing sedans populating this price range before closing a deal on this aging Volvo.

Powertrains and Performance
The S60 2.5T has a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder rated for 208 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard with this engine, and it routes power either to the front wheels or all four on the all-wheel-drive (2.5T AWD) model.

The S60 T5 has a slightly smaller 2.4-liter inline-5 but uses a higher-boost turbocharger, helping it produce 257 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The T5 is front-wheel-drive only and comes with a five-speed automatic with a manual-shift mode.

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Called R-Design, it’s been created to develop the brand’s sporting credentials with the looks, if not the power, of its high-performance R models. As with Audi’s S line or BMW’s M Sport kit, the package is the cheapest way of boosting the presence of the C30 hatch, S40 saloon or V50 estate.The R-Design spec can be added to Sport and SE Sport variants, and consists of a bodykit, a roof spoiler, new alloy wheels and unique badging. There’s also leather trim for the cabin and a host of other tweaks to the interior, including alloy pedals.Viewed for the first time, it looks smart – and that feeling continues inside. The thickly padded sports seats are covered in two-tone cream and black leather, with the steering wheel also wrapped in hide. The centre console is made from aluminium with a carbon fibre-effect finish.

The instruments now have blue backing, and the floor mats get cream leather seams. Plus, there are R-Design badges on the wheel and seats. Fit and finish is superb throughout, and although the two-tone seats are a matter of taste, the R-Design package brings some handsome updates for the C30. More importantly, it’s in keeping with Volvo’s subtle image.

However, it does come at a price. Weighing in at £21,295, our 2.0D SE Sport model is expensive, especially when you consider that, according to the maker’s latest price list, you can’t order this variant without the R-Design package. A few months ago, you could get an SE Sport – which came with a near-identical bodykit and 18-inch alloy wheels, but not the leather trim – for £500 less. The cheapest C30 R-Design is the 1.6-litre petrol Sport, although that still costs £16,600.

Does the driving experience match the racy looks? Not quite. Despite its Ford Focus underpinnings, the C30 simply isn’t much fun. Its steering is accurate yet rather numb, while the ride is fine on smooth roads, but brittle over broken surfaces.

The 134bhp 2.0-litre diesel provides plenty of pace, however, with a rapid 0-60mph time of 8.8 seconds and punchy in-gear performance. It’s a bit gruff under acceleration, although the unit is very refined when cruising and impressively economical, too.

Another Achilles’ Heel for the C30 is its lack of space. With two six-foot tall occupants up front, the pair of rear seats are only really useful for carrying luggage. And that’s just as well, because the boot is only 233 litres – about the same as a Ford Fiesta’s.

Still, this R-Design model certainly stands out, and with the promise of strong residuals offsetting some of the effects of that expensive price tag, there’s still plenty of appeal.

Rival: BMW 120d M Sport
The German firm’s sporty trim adds a bodykit, alloys, lowered suspension and racy cabin tweaks. It looks fantastic, but the upgrades are even more costly than Volvo’s R-Design pack, taking the price of a 120d up by £3,575 to £23,395.

[source:AutoExpress]

Volvo C30 Wagon

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Autoblog reports: Volvo C30 wagon confirmed by PR spokesperson. Blah.

We love the C30 as is. And the V50 doesn’t need competition (sales are down 31% this year). Perhaps we are witnessing the pre-death of the V50, yes?

Actually, most of Volvo is looking like crappola: S40: down 26%, V70: down 35%, XC90: down 6%. A few models are up, but not enough to get excited about.

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