Currently reading: Frankfurt update: Volvo C30
Facelifted car due on sale in early 2010

This is the facelifted Volvo C30, which has been revealed at the Frankfurt motor show.

The front and rear of the car have been redesigned, taking cues from the S60 concept and the recently revealed C70.

See the Volvo C30 picture gallery

Front-end changes include new panels for the wings and bonnet, and a larger Volvo logo in the restyled honeycomb grille, in line with all the other current models. The air intake has also been enlarged to reflect the design of the XC60's.

The rear has also been tweaked, and buyers can specify the rear bumper assembly in the car's body colour or an alternative colour.

Buyers of all engine variants except the 1.6D DRIVe stop-start model can also opt for a new Sports chassis, which Volvo describes as giving the car "a sharper ride". Changes include sharper steering, a tighter steering ratio that gives a 10 per cent faster response to inputs, increased spring stiffness (up by 30 per cent) and stiffer dampers.

Volvo is also making the polished stainless steel exhausts visible on T5 and D5-powered models, adding metallic orange to the colour choices, and offering two new wheel options, one of which is white.

Interior changes include a range of new upholstery colours.

The C30 can also be specified with a new styling kit, which includes a fog lamp surround and front and rear skidplates.

There are five diesel options, ranging in power from 107bhp to 177bhp, and three petrols, ranging from 99bhp to 227bhp. These include two DRIVe eco models powered by the 1.6-litre diesel engine. The version with stop-start averages 72.4mpg and emits 104g/km of CO2, while the version without the system averages 62.8mpg and emits 119g/km.

The facelifted car will go on sale early in 2010, with prices announced nearer to that date.

Full Frankfurt motor show preview

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The C30 2.0D disappoints, but 1.6D is very competitive. Nice, but flawed

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Chips 8 September 2009

Re: New Volvo C30 launched

I think the crux of the problem is the geartronic gearbox. I've got an EU4 D5 185 S60 manual and that is spectacularly economical. 40 mpg average on my commute, and 45 mpg at an indicated 90 mph (probably more like 86/87 mph in actuality) cruise on longer trips. That's brim to brim calculation as well, not the trip computer.

Engine temperature makes a big difference, it takes almost 30 miles for the engine to get to optimum temperature - which is why I only average 40 mpg on my commute and get 44 to 46 mpg on longer motorway schleps. If I could keep it at 70 mph (life is too short to be honest) I suspect I could get close to 50 mpg, maybe a wee bit more.

Mr£4worth 8 September 2009

Re: New Volvo C30 launched

Actually we did, and after 6 weeks trying to get a 1 Series 118D test we gave up. The C30 was driven around Plymouth, and since taking a 118D out when my 3 series was in for a service we came to realise we should have pushed the dealer for a test rather than making do with one of the prettiest cars on sale today. Can you imagine the smaller D5 actually did way more mpg in a big V70, I really can't see how Volvo messed up on this one. They meet the new emissions targets - but at the cost of drinking more heavily. Actually a 1 series hatch is UGLY, and maybe that's why we made the wrong choice!

noluddite 8 September 2009

Re: New Volvo C30 launched

It looks ok I suppose. The flanks are chunky, the grille and headlights purposeful, but the P180alike rear end and those painted plastic bits on the prow place it in the 'trying too hard', and hence the 'to be dismissed' category. Especially as the looks don't appear to be backed up by decent dynamics (according to tests and other's comments - I haven't been tempted to try one myself). Not all bad news though. We need a comfortable small second hand car and the old version should now be a little cheaper.