Volvos Exotic Styling – Volvo C30 SportsCoupe

Every Major motoring exhibition has one: the showstopper, the set of wheels that wows the watching crowds.

And with the focus on Germany’s Frankfurt Motor show, now on until September 27th, the event’s scene-stealer could be a Volvo. And not even a new-model Volvo, at that.

Volvo – solid reliable, always safe – could stand tall among the world’s latest motoring marvels with its radicla new take on the C30 Sports Coupe.

It’s an update, yes but a highly important one.

The once-staid Sweedish marque is moving slowly, but surely, away from all-block, no-shock design towards more exotic styling, and the latest SportsCoupe is destined to be a major part of that evolution.

The original C30 raised quite a stir at its launch three years ago, but some media pundits saw it as the yawn, rather than the dawn, of a new era for the firm.

This new SportsCoupe will go a long way to charging that perception, especially with some C30s gaining impeccable eco-credentials as well as a vital new nose job.

Indeed Volvo has high hopes for the new C30 – the Frankfurt show is the launch platform, for it goes into production in less than eight weeks, in November. British buyers will be able to get their hands on one early next year, although the volatile sales market will probably mean that prices will stay under wraps until the last possible moment.

They shouldn’t stray too far, though from the existing £15,000-£22,000 bracket.

It;s the C30’s front end that carries the full weight of Volvo’s changes – it has been redesigned to create a more distinctive personality, while bringing it into familial line with the firm’s S60 Concept car and recently announced new C70.

Existing petrol and diesel engines continue, with the DRIVe or eco-friendly, 1.6 litre diesels earmarked for extra promotion.