IT is beautiful and innovative in its design concept. It is perfection on wheels—no wonder that the Volvo C30 Sports Coupé was chosen as 2007 Car of the Year by the Car Awards Group Inc.

This four-seater sports car in a hatchback package is gentle, elegant yet aggressive and comes with two engine choices: a 2.4-liter, DOHC, five-cylinder rated at170 bhp, maximum torque of 230 Nm and top speed of 215 kph; and a turbocharged, 2.5-liter, five cylinder that cranks out maximum power of 230 bhp, maximum torque of 320 Nm and top speed of 235 kph. Both are mated to a five-speed automatic driver-adaptive with Geartronic transmission, which gives the driver the best of both worlds. Enjoy the convenience of automatic gear shifting when in traffic and, once the road up ahead is clear, flip the shift lever and you have a manual transmission with sequential shifting.

Many people know that sports cars eat up too much fuel, well not this one. The advanced aerodynamics and engine technology cut down on drag and carbon emissions, allowing the car to remain fuel-efficient and meet stringent environmental protection requirements. 

Driving it inspires confidence. Its snappy handling and precise pointing ability are a result of the McPherson struts, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers with a stabilizer bar in front and multilink independent suspension with coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers and stabilizer bar in the rear. Although it has a short wheelbase, which promotes a quick response with each input at the wheel, the ride is as comfortable as any car Volvo has ever made.

Talking about Volvo, the C30 does a lot to maintain the company’s reputation for building the world’s safest cars. Its standard safety features include antisubmarining design on all seats, auto door unlock in a crash situation, collapsible steering column, driver and front passenger airbags, electronic key integrated remote control with central locking system, illuminated side marker lights, inflatable side curtain, intelligent driver information system, safe approach and home safe lighting, three-point inertia-reel seatbelts with auto pretensioners for all four seats, side-impact protection system and airbags, Volvo guard alarm with dead lock and immobilizer and whiplash protection system.            

In addition to the aforementioned, the C30 is fitted with ABS and Emergency Brake Assistance (EBA), which senses when the driver is attempting an emergency stop. The EBA provides extra juice to bring the car to an immediate standstill instead of a surprise. Another is the stability and traction control (STC), which helps manage the power and rotation of individual wheels to counteract dangerous skids and slippery roads, as well as improve the ride smoothness in all situations.

One of this writer’s favorites is the Blind Light System (Blis), which is a featured highlight of the C30 that can be switched either on or off from the control panel. With Blis, a lamp on either side mirror lights up when there is a vehicle heaving alongside the C30’s blind spot—very useful when a car or motorcycle is trying to overtake you from the right, for instance.

Another notable feature of the C30 is its interior. Touches like the three-spoke, leather steering wheel; 50/50 split-folding rear backseat; aluminum bauxite inlays; audio controls in steering wheel; audio-dim rearview mirror; dual-zone electronic climate control; leather seats; power-adjustable driver seat with three memory settings; reading lamps; illuminated vanity mirrors and optional sunroof make it a driver’s delight.

Young owners will enjoy the high-performance sound system with eight-speaker surround-sound arrangement. They can also listen to their favorite music collection through the iPod/USB music interface or CD. The device is also in the console to keep the driver’s eyes on the road while changing songs.

With the C30, Volvo has once again delivered its commitments and has created another work of art. Seventeen exterior colors are available, including Orinoco blue, passion red, safari green, ice white, electric silver, brilliant blue and maple red, among the few. The basic price of the Volvo C30 is P1,688,888 for the 2.4L, while the T5 is priced at P2,188,888.

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