No, we hadn’t heard of the Gothenburg motor show, either. But appropriately enough, given the Volvo sale to China’s Geely, it overlaps perfectly with the 2010 Beijing auto show – and was the launchpad of the homegrown Volvo C30 Performance Car Prototype.
This Volvo concept car was produced by Polestar Performance, the people behind the company’s Swedish Touring Car team. The C30 PCP produces a claimed 400bhp from its blown 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine. That’s achieved with a larger intercooler, KKK turbo, new pistons and conrods.
A 400 horsepower C30? Fighting talk!
Indeed. Keeping all that 376lb ft twist in check is a four-wheel drive system, using Volvo’s proven Haldex system. There’s a Quaife mechanical diff too to prevente the front driveshafts from scrabbling into oblivion.
The chassis is tuned accordingly. Ohlins shocks are fitted, a quicker steering rack and Brembo discs with six-pot callipers up front, four-pots at the back. It’s a touring car for the road, really, sitting four-square on its 19in rims and Pirelli race rubber.
The race car image is enhanced by four-point harnesses, race buckets and an aero makeover inspired by the Volvo STCC race car. Sarah-Jayne Harrison, keeper of CAR’s long-term test C30 1.6 DRIVe – eat your heart out!