The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 20, 2007 - 17 538 Plains Road, Burlington ON L7T 2E3 www.autotek.ca e-mail: info@autotek.ca "It's worth the drive to Burlington" phone: (905) 632-2400 · fax: (905) 632-4600 Volvo targets a younger audience with the new C30 hatchback By Lorne Drury METROLAND MEDIA GROUP When guys get together to talk hot cars, Volvo is not usually a brand that creeps into the discussion. After all, the Volvo name has long been known for safety, reliability and durability. Cool-looking designs are generally not at the top of the list of attributes one would mention when considering the merits of a Volvo. At least that wasn't the case until the past year or so when the Ford-owned Swedish automaker brought out the latest C70 hardtop convertible followed by the S80 luxury sedan. Both are extremely fine looking automobiles' at least I think so. Well, you can add another model to that list with Volvo's newest addition to the lineup, the C30 sporty hatchback. Reaching out to an entirely new demographic, the C30 is aimed squarely at young, urban professionals' the type of people who might be looking at an Audi A3, a Mini Cooper S or Volkswagen GTI. They've probably never considered a Volvo - until now! Starting at $27,495 for the 2.4i model and $31,995 for the T5, the C30 is right in the ballpark, price wise. But, be warned, the sticker can climb awfully fast if you consider the sweet Passion Red T5 I recently had the opportunity to drive. Loaded with options, the car topped out at nearly $45K. Granted, it had $5,979 in dealer-installed goodies, such as 18-inch wheels and tires, a body kit and rear spoiler, but you can almost hear the cha-ching, cha-ching of the cash register as you tally up the price. The C30 is not one of those innocuous looking cars that blends in with the pack. Perhaps it was the brilliant red colour of my tester that attracted the attention, but I got more comments about the C30 during my week behind the wheel than just about any car in recent memory. Sure, it's brand new and people stop to ask, 'What is it?î But, most are genuinely interested (and surprised) when they discover it's a Volvo. Heading into uncharted territory was the plan for the C30 as Volvo tries to lure new, younger buyers to the brand. In fact, Volvo Canada says it expects 75 per cent of the sales will go to people who have never owned a Volvo. The sales target for this year is about 2,000 units in Canada and 65,000 worldwide. From the front, the C30 has a resemblance to the S40, Volvo's entry-level sedan. However, what makes the C30 unique in the marketplace is the retro-looking glass hatch at the rear, which reminds oldtimers like myself of the sporty P1800 Volvo of 1971. As mentioned earlier, the C30 is offered here in two trim options. The base 2.4i has a 2.4-litre five-cylinder engine that makes 168 hp and 170 lb/ft of torque. My tester was the turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine, producing 218 hp and 236 lb/ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on both, with a five-speed automatic offered as an option ($1,500). The C30 is offered in front-wheel drive only, but don't be surprised to see an all-wheel drive version hit the market at some point in the future. My T5 with the six-speed manual was lots of fun, both on the highway and country roads. The turbocharged engine has lots of torque and plenty of power to pull into high-speed traffic, even from those congested off-ramps you find in this area. Volvo quotes a 0-100 km/h time of 6.7 seconds for the T5 and 8.1 for the 2.4i. Although it starts out at $27,495 for the base 2.4i model, costs can add up quickly with the new C30. As it sits, this T5 version tops out at nearly $45,000. On the twists and turns of the back roads I sometimes take to work, the C30 was equally at home and plenty of fun to drive. The shifter is smooth and slick and the ride quality is about as good as you're going to get with the low-profile tires fitted onto the awesome looking 18-inch rims on the test car. As with all Volvos, the seats are first-class, well-bolstered and extremely comfortable. This is a true four-seater, with bucket-like seats in the rear and a fold-down armrest. The front seats slide quite far forward to allow access to the rear seats, which fold down for added cargo space. The rear seats are usable, unlike many supposed four-seaters on the market today. The interior fit and finish is spot on, with high quality materials - fitting for a sport hatch in this price range. And again, because this is a Volvo, safety is a priority. Anti-lock brakes (ABS), stability and traction control and emergency brake assist are all standard. You also get inflatable side curtain airbags, drive and front passenger multi-stage airbags and a whiplash protection system. My tester was equipped with the $3,400 Sport Package, a sunroof ($1,500) and a 10-speaker DynAudio package ($1,000) in addition to the dealer add-ons previously mentioned. These can add up quickly as the tire and wheel package alone is more than $3,800 and the body kit adds another $1,713. Other packages and stand-alone options such as a navigation system are also offered on each of the trim levels. Check with the dealer for full details of all the packages available. It's aimed at singles and young couples rather than the traditional Volvo driver, but I can see the C30 attracting an older buyer as well - one who wants something sporty, but with a touch of luxury to boot. I guess I fit that demographic and I must say that a Passion Red C30 would look quite nice in my driveway. Now if I could only convince my wife... The interior is top-notch, with excellent fit and finish and as always, outstanding seats that you always find in a Volvo. 2007 VOLVO C30 T5 AT A GLANCE BODY STYLE: two-door compact hatchback DRIVE METHOD: front engine, front-wheel drive ENGINE: 2.5L 5-cylinder with turbocharger and intercooler (218 hp, 236 lb/ft). FUEL ECONOMY: 11.3L/100 km city; 7.3L/100 km highway. PRICE: 2.4i $27,495, T5 $31,995. tested $44,524 Website: volvocanada.com