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Volvo has joined the ranks of the lean and mean eco cars opting for a 1.6 litre turbo diesel power plant in the C30 coupe . The sporty C 30 coupe - perhaps the Swedish company's most stylish offering since the P1800 of the 1960s - is now the most economical in it's class thanks to a new 1.6 litre turbo-charged diesel engine. The oil burner sips just 3.8 litres/100 kms and breaks the magic 100 grams of C02 per kilometre, coming in at 99 grams.
It is the first DRIVe Volvo to land in Australia and received wraps from Volvo Car Australia's managing director, Alan Desselss. "The C 30 DRIVe encapsulates all of Volvo's core philosophies and reinforces our on-going commitment to environmental sustainability," he said. "With the new C 30 DRIVe, we have developed a car that delivers an exciting driving experience while caring for the environment."
The car features Volvo's 'Stop/Start' technology, which switches off the engine when the car is at a standstill at lights or stationary in traffic. Volvo state this alone can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by four to five per cent in mixed driving conditions. In urban traffic this could be as high as eight per cent. The Stop/Start technology uses a small auxillary battery that enables fast, smooth and unobtrusive start-up that does not interfere with other functions such as the audio.
It also uses a regenerative charge facility which charges the battery as soon as the driver releases the accelerator of brakes while a gear is engaged. By using this system the alternator does not use diesel fuel to recharge the car's battery. This amounts to a fuel saving of between two and three per cent. Since the DRIVe was launched in Europe in 2008 further refinements have reduced Co2 emissions from 115 grams/km to today's 99g/km.
According to Volvo the car will cruise more than 1300 kms on a single 52-litre tank of fuel. The turbo-charged 1.6 litre diesel engine produces 240 Nm of torque at a low 1750 rpm and covers 0-100 km/h in 11.3 seconds. Power is channeled through a five speed manual shifter. No auto is available. The C30 1.6 DRIVe has a manufacturers list price of $36,150.
While Volvo did not supply any DRIVe cars for the launch they did provide us with the facelifted C30, a car first launched here in 2007. It has been a success for Volvo Australia with 65 per cent of C30 owners new to the brand. The C30 gets the new, bolder Volvo front which complements the already out-there rear end styling of the C30 – inspired by the P1800 of the 1960s.
Highlighting changes to the front are the new headlamps that sweep along the mudguards and over large outer air vents. It is a dramatic effect that suits the C30's aggressive styling. Two new alloy wheel options are available, a 16 inch Convector and 17 inch Styx White while C30 also gets new paint options: Orange Flame metallic and Lime Grass Green.
The rear end has been altered to make the car appear closer to the ground with a new bumper that features black, lower-set panels. The interior has also undergone a minor makeover. Like the C70 convertible upgrade launched at the same time, the C30 gets Volvo's Emergency Brake Light system in which the brake lights flash five times a second in emergency braking situations.
C30 MODELS AND PRICING
C30 S man. $34,950 auto $36,450
C30 1.6 DRIVe $36,150 n/a
C30 2.0 D Powershift n/a $37,950
C30 T5 man $43,450 auto $44,950
C30 TR R design man $47,150 auto $48,650 |
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