Car
March 19, 2015
VOLVO | Volvo C30 | Part 9 (First Part) | "Too Stylish for a Volvo?!"
Part 9: Volvo C30 (Part 1)
Too Stylish for a Volvo!?
In Japan, the image of "Volvo means wagon" is firmly established, but they also offer sedans, SUVs, and compact hatches like the new C30 introduced here.
What did Yasushi Shimono feel when he drove this new model with its distinctive styling...?
By Yasushi ShimonoPhoto by Volvo Cars
Nordic Volvo: Part of the Ford Family
When Kazuyoshi Miura, the soccer player, was playing in Zagreb, Croatia, there happened to be a Volvo test drive event, and he visited the capital city.
His flight into the capital was scheduled for that night, but due to airport closure caused by dense fog, the plan was suddenly changed. He landed in neighboring Austria, Graz, and then crossed the border by bus.
After a bumpy 300km overland journey, he finally arrived at the hotel late at night.
He gave up on the shower, which had poor hot water supply, and dozed off on the bed. In the early morning, news about Volvo was playing on BBC, a British TV channel he had left on.
Images of cars and factories were overlaid with a photo of a familiar villainous face. Looking back now, it was Jack Nasser, chairman of Ford USA at the time, who resembled Torre, the manager of the Yankees. The news announced that Ford had just acquired Volvo.
"On behalf of Volvo Car Corporation... and Ford..." the Swedish PR manager began with a wry smile at the start of the press conference the next morning.
Of course, it was a bolt from the blue for Volvo's staff as well. Mergers of car manufacturers usually happen suddenly, but it was the only time in history that such an event occurred right in the middle of an international press test drive.
That was in 1998. Since then, the brand-new model from Volvo, now under Ford's umbrella, is the C30.
The front fascia shares similarities with the S40 and V50, which served as its base.
A Sporty Wagon-Style Premium Hatch
To be precise, Volvo currently belongs to PAG (Premier Automotive Group), the luxury car division of the Ford Group. Other prestigious brands like Jaguar, Land Rover, and Aston Martin are also part of it.
However, Ford, currently undergoing a major restructuring, decided to sell Aston Martin in 2007.
Furthermore, the future of the remaining PAG brands is uncertain. Nevertheless, it is in this context that the new model, the Volvo C30, has been launched.
It's a sporty wagon-style premium compact hatchback positioned below the compact sedan S40 and the wagon V50. That's a simple description of the C30.
Its rivals include the Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3, and BMW 1 Series, which are typical C-segment hatches. Among them, the C30's individuality stands out.
Total length of 4.2 meters. A layout with four seats within the smallest body in the lineup.
It completely lacks the mundane atmosphere one might associate with a hatchback. The rear styling, with its glass hatch that exudes the tension of a show model, is particularly captivating.
Some might feel it's too stylish for a Volvo.
But looking back at Volvo's history, this design makes perfect sense.
