Mid-life nip-tuck for Volvo C30 SportsCoupe

Volvo has released the first official images of its facelifted C30 SportsCoupe, which will have the hanky whipped off it at next week's Frankfurt motor show.

The pics reveal a substantially tweaked nose and tail, ensuring the car's visual appeal remains fresh after having been on the market for almost three years. The new model is due to arrive in local Volvo showrooms next March.

Inspired by the 1970s P1800 ES coupe-cum-wagon, the C30 has provided Volvo with a useful entry-level model that starts under $35k.

The current model's 341 local sales until the end of August means the C30 was outsold only by Volvo's SUV models; the XC90 is the brand's top seller with 851 sales, followed by the XC60 (678 sales) and XC70 (354 sales).

The MY2010 C30 brings a heavily revamped face, distinguished by a much more thrusting snout with reprofiled headlights, a six-point grille and revised lower air intake and foglight cutouts.

The wings and bonnet are also new (not cheap upgrades), and these are designed to bring the car in line with the S60 Concept and recently announced new-gen C70.

Although the biggest design changes are up front, the rear end has also been fettled via a rear valance that's available in body colour or a contrasting hue.

Other new exterior features include the introduction of a vibrant Orange Flame Metallic colour, visible exhaust tailpipes in the T5 and D5 models, two new wheel options -- including a striking white wheel alternative -- and the choice of five different colours on the lower trim from the new C30 Contrast Colour Collection, such as Blackcurrant, Java and Shadow Blue.

Meanwhile, the options list has been bolstered by a new accessory styling kit that brings a foglamp decor, a front skidplate, side scuff plates and a rear skidplate with an aluminium look.

For T5 variants, two 90mm tail pipes in polished stainless steel are added to highlight the powerful engine.

Also newly available is an optional Sports chassis that drops ride height by 10mm to lower the centre of gravity and give the C30 a meaner stance.

In addition, the steering is claimed to be more precise thanks to stiffer bushings and the steering ratio is lower, giving a claimed 10 percent faster response to steering wheel input.

Spring stiffness has been increased by 30 percent to deliver a more dynamic ride, says Volvo, and the dampers are have also been stiffened accordingly.

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