|
|
|---|
|
|
|---|
They partnered up with Powercell Sweden AB (with backing from the Swedish Energy Agency) and hope that the Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric will be ready for testing on the road by 2012.
For the 2011 model year, Volvo is introducing a new five-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo diesel that will be available throughout its range while the Swedish automaker also upgraded the six-cylinder petrol engines offered on the S80, V70, XC70 and XC60.The new five-cylinder diesel unit is in principle the same engine as the 2.4-litre diesel, but its displacement has been reduced (with a shorter stroke) to 2.0-liters. It will be offered in three different variants in terms of output.
The new race car gets a revised front end which is longer, lower and wider, with the Swedish automaker claiming that the new design delivers a higher ground pressure at the front, and an improved airflow right around the vehicle.
The idea behind the project is to create the ultimate C30 without being halted by specific race regulations. The concept includes a 400-horsepower engine, all-wheel-drive, and aerodynamics based on Polestar's race car data.
Volvo has released pricing for the UK market 2010 model year C30 sport hatchback and C70 hardtop convertible that were both unveiled for the first time at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show. The facelifted C30 is available in four trim levels S, SE, SE Lux and R-DESIGN and a choice of six engines with prices starting from £14,495 OTR for the entry-level 100HP 1.6 S petrol model rising to £21,360 OTR for the 180HP D5 turbo-diesel in SE Lux guise.All C30s come equipped with standard features such as ECC (Electronic Climate Control), Information Centre, power windows, a leather steering wheel and gear knob, floor mats, CD player and an Aux input and alloy wheels as well as DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control.
The revised 2010 C70 cabriolet is offered in three trim levels, S, SE and SE Lux, and a choice of four engines, including two diesels, the 136HP 2.0D and 180HP D5 and two petrol derivatives, the 170HP 2.4i and the 230HP T5. The C70 range kicks off at £25,995 for the base 2.0D S.
Standard features include ECC (Electronic Climate Control), alloy wheels, front fog lights, power windows, information centre, cruise control, floor mats and a Performance Sound Audio System.
Volvo said that both models will arrive in UK showrooms this December, with first customer deliveries expected to take place in January 2010.
In addition to the market introduction of a diesel-electric plug-in hybrid in 2012 (details here), Volvo is also working on a pure electric model with the C30 BEV, which stands for 'Battery Electric Vehicle". The Swedish automaker has built a small number of prototype versions of the C30 BEV that will are to be tested internally by Volvo to evaluate the vehicle in real-life conditions with much of the focus being on the integration of the electric propulsion system with the rest of the car."The Volvo C30 is the first model we will try out with electric power. This car's excellent properties in city traffic and its relatively low weight make it particularly suitable, since electric cars are primarily expected to be used in and around cities and for daily commuting," says Lennart Stegland, Director of Volvo Cars Special Vehicles.
The C30 BEV is powered by an electric motor housed under the hood that drives the front wheel. Energy is provided by a 24kW Lithium-Ion battery that can be fully charged through a regular 230V household socket in about eight hours.
Volvo says that the all-electric C30 accelerates from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in less than 11 seconds while the vehicle's top speed has been limited to around 130km/h (80mph). The car has a driving range of up to 150 kilometres or 93 miles, which Volvo claims is "longer and far better than the distance 90 percent of all Europe's motorists drive per day."
The Swedish automaker said that while the company's main focus over the next years will be plug-in hybrids, they will assess the viability of all-electric vehicles. According to the company, the are several factors that will determine the success or not of dedicated electric cars.
"The consumer must feel that this type of car is attractive both to drive and own," says Paul Gustavsson, Director of Electrification Strategy at Volvo Cars.
"In order to ensure this, we feel that electric cars will have to be as comfortable and safe and offer similar levels of performance as cars with other power sources. The learning from the C30 BEV project will help us to fulfill all these criteria and showcase Volvo's determination to drive developments in the field of electrification."
In anticipation of the production version of the S60 Concept, Volvo used the Frankfurt Motor Show to introduce its refreshed C70 hardtop convertible and C30 sport hatchback. The most significant changes for the two models come up front as both receive a new fascia that takes its inspiration from the S60 Concept along with numerous other detailed but less important spec changes. Hit the jump for the live shots or click here to read more about the C70 Cabrio and here for the C30 hatch.2010 Volvo C70
___________________________________________________________________
2010 Volvo C30
The introduction of the facelifted Volvo C30 brings a new R-Design sport package with a spicy bodykit and chassis upgrades for the premium hatchback model. Visually, the R-Design adds an all-new color-matching bodykit front, rear and roof spoilers, lower door trim moulding and side-skirts along with visible chrome plated tailpipes, 17-inch five spoke alloys plus a silk metal finish for the front grille and door mirror housings.The cabin finish includes a two-tone or alternatively all-black, leather interior, R-Design centre stack and panel inserts, a sport leather steering wheel, gear lever knob trimmed in leather and aluminum and blue speedometer and rev counter gauges.
However, the biggest changes in the new C30 R-Design, which makes its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, are hidden beneath the skin. In particular, the steering is more precise thanks to the installation of stiffer bushings while the lower steering ratio promises to offer faster response to steering wheel input.
Volvo's engineers also tampered around with the suspension that now features much stiffer springs, dampers and roll stabilizers to improve handling. Furthermore, the ride height has been lowered by 10 mm.
"A customer who test-drives the new C30 R-Design will immediately feel the difference," claims Stefan Sällqvist, manager Vehicle Dynamics at Volvo Cars. "Even before the car has covered fifty meters, the driver will be aware of the crisp steering and the distinct chassis response."
Detailed pricing on the R-Design sport package will be announced at a later date.
Life at Volvo is about to get busier. Joining the updated C70 hardtop-convertible at this month's Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany is the gently facelifted C30 hatch. As with the C70, the front-end of the C30 has been restyled taking styling cues from the S60 Concept. This translates to larger (maybe a tad too large in our opinion) and 'swoopier' headlights, a more distinct grille treatment with a new honeycomb pattern unique to the C30 as well as redesigned wings and bonnet."The front of the Volvo C30 has become more dramatic and expressive," said Fedde Talsma, Exterior Chief Designer at Volvo Cars. "The angled lines of the front bumper together with the new headlamps, which are drawn offset and up, reinforce the impression of speed and sportiness.".
At the back the C30 gets a new rear bumper treatment with deeper lines and wavier contours while the black plastic panels have been replaced with more body colour lower down.
Other new exterior features for the 2010 model year include the introduction of a vibrant Orange Flame Metallic colour, visible exhaust tailpipes in the T5 and D5 models, two new alloy wheel options one of which is white and the choice of five different colors on the lower trim from the Contrast Color Collection models.
Furthermore, Volvo has developed a new styling kit for the 2010 C30 that includes foglamp decor, a front skidplate, side scuff plates and a rear skidplate, all finished in an aluminum look.
Inside, changes are limited to the introduction of a new trim option for the center console called "Oyster Burst Déco" which is said to be inspired by the surface texture of the classic Swedish Hagström.
Volvo is also introducing a new optional sport chassis for the C30 with stiffer springs, dampers and roll stabilizers as well as a lower steering ratio that gives 10 per cent faster response to steering wheel input The new sport chassis is available in all C30 versions except for 1.6D DRIVe.
There are no changes in the engine line-up with the C30 being offered (depending on the market) with the same gasoline and diesel drivelines with power ranging from the 100HP 1.6-liter petrol to the 230HP turbocharged 2.5-liter petrol unit.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
