Volvo C30 DRIVe arrives in Oz

Managing Director of Volvo Australia, Alan Desselss, describes the C30 DRIVe as a "toe in the water exercise". It's the prestige importer's first serious flirtation with cashed-up buyers wanting to do their bit for the environment -- without suffering for the cause.

The new variant in the C30 range is Volvo's answer to cars such as the MINI D, Audi's A3 1.9 TDi e and BMW's 120d. Priced at $36,150, the Volvo undercuts the Audi on price, but beats the German car for fuel efficiency and output, thanks to the C30's standard 'Stop/Start' feature. It's significantly cheaper again than the BMW, which compensates with its more powerful 2.0-litre engine.

In combined-cycle testing, the C30 DRIVe is good for 3.8L/100km and produces 99g/km of CO2. Peak power is 80kW and maximum torque of 240Nm arrives at 1750rpm. The Volvo's stats confer "best in class" rating, according to the importer, and the emissions and fuel consumption are very close to the respective figures for Ford's Fiesta ECOnetic, the current diesel champion for the whole market.

If the slightly toy-like C30 seems like a curious choice as the Swedish brand's eco-pioneer in Australia, Desselss says the decision to try out the DRIVe variant in the C30 range first was a matter of what was available at the time.

"When we made the decision," Desselss told the Carsales Network during the car's local launch this week, "the DRIVe was only available in C30 and V50." In other words, it was not available in the volume-selling S40, which would have been a bigger "toe" to dip in the water. Since the local arm arrived at the decision to import the C30 DRIVe, the manufacturer has rolled out the technology to other models in the range, including the S40. Whatever the case though, one C30 DRIVe has already been sold to a Melbourne buyer, "sight unseen", Desselss says -- and that's a promising start. Desselss is hoping that the other 49 cars brought in with the initial shipment will sell as fast.

The C30 DRIVe arrives in Australia along with a lfacelift for the entire C30 range and a complementary upgrade for the C70 coupe-convertible. Both the hatch and the convertible adopt the same family look at the front, comprising elongated headlights, honeycomb grille insert and revised front bumper/apron cues.

At the rear, the revised bumper features new reflectors for the C30 and LED tail lights are adopted for the C70. Volvo has developed emergency brake lights that flash the brake lights of the C70 five times per second, in the event of high brake pedal pressure applied at speeds over 60km/h.

Two new alloy wheel designs have been introduced to the C30 range as options -- a 16-inch wheel named 'Convector' and the 17-inch 'Styx White' wheel. New colours available are Orange Flame metallic and Lime Grass Green for the C30, plus Flamenco Red for the C70.

Volvo has revised the interior design for both cars. In the C30, a graduating colour scheme named 'Oyster Burst Deco' combines grey with white for the centre fascia and door trims. This look is said to have been inspired by Swedish Hagstrom guitars used by Elvis Presley, Frank Zappa and Jimi Hendrix.

Other changes inside the C30 include new honeycomb-pattern aluminium decorative trim that resists scratching and a revised cargo blind in the luggage compartment, manufactured in a different material and featuring a new graphic pattern.

The C70 is also upgraded with the availability of the Oyster Burst Deco look, along with the honeycomb-pattern aluminium, but the C70 additionally offers a new soft leather trim for the seats and the option of Cranberry Red upholstery colour.

Safety features fitted as standard across the range for both the C30 and the C70 are: ABS, Emergency Brake Assist, Adaptive brake light flashing, stability control, front airbags, side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags, front seatbelt pre-tensioners, headrests/anti-submarining for all seats and active headrests.

Standard features for the entire C30 range include: auxiliary audio input, front/rear fog lights, electric fold-in door mirrors, 'puddle' lights, leather-bound handbrake/steering wheel/gear knob, remote central locking, climate control, pollen filter, front-seat adjustable lumbar support, split-fold rear seat, front cupholders, 12V auxiliary power outlets, reach/rake adjustment for steering wheel, front electric windows, cruise control and trip computer.

As the entry-level variant in the range, the C30 2.4i S (priced at $34,950 for the manual or $36,450 for the auto) is trimmed as for the C30 DRIVe ($36,150), other than the 16-inch alloy wheels, which are the Ceryx design for the C30 S and the Libra design for the C30 DRIVe. The C30 DRIVe is also fitted as standard with an electro-chromatic auto-dipping mirror, which is an option for the C30 S and the more expensive C30 2.0D ($37,950, Powershift 'auto' only).

Fitted with the turbocharged five-cylinder engine, the C30 T5 ($43,450 manual or $44,950 auto), features: upgraded leather trim, rear spoiler, electro-chromatic mirror with integrated compass, rear-seat armrest, hard load cover, headlight washers, electrically-adjustable driver's seat, rear park assist and 17-inch Zaurak-design alloy wheels. The R-Design option for the T5 ($47,150 manual or $48,650 auto), adds aluminium/leather combination sports steering wheel/gear knob, exclusive vinyl/leather combination trim, floormats, sports pedals and 17-inch Cratus-design alloy wheels.

For the C70, the entry-level S variant ($59,950 for manual or auto) comes equipped as standard with: auxiliary audio input, single-disc eight-speaker CD audio system, remote audio controls in steering wheel, exit lights on the doors, front/rear fog lights, electric fold-in mirrors, leather-bound steering wheel/gear knob/handbrake, leather seat/door trim, remote central locking, climate control, front-seat adjustable lumbar support, electrically-adjustable driver's seat, front cupholders, 12-Volt auxiliary power outlets, reach/rake-adjustable steering wheel, electric windows, cruise control, trip computer and 17-inch Serapis alloy wheels.

To this, the C70 T5 (priced at $69,950 for both manual and auto) adds: 12-speaker audio system, Active Bending Lights, leather/aluminium trim combination for steering wheel/gear knob, premium leather upholstery for seats/doors, electrically-adjustable front passenger's seat, heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, headlight washers and 18-inch Mirzam alloy wheels.

Key to pics: Volvo C30 T5 R-Design (Orange Flame metallic), C30 DRIVe (Lime Grass Green), C70 (Flamenco Red)

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