SWEDISH POLE DANCER
2012 Volvo C30 T5 R-Design Polestar

The Volvos of yore were known for being safe but stoic. Today, that image has undergone a significant shift—still safe, but hardly stoic. Nowhere is that more evident than in the beguiling 2012 Volvo C30 T5 R-Design Polestar. Harvey Schwartz reports. By Harvey Schwartz When you think of Volvo, you think of its great safety record. With the new Volvo C30 T5 R-Design Polestar edition, you can add a thrilling ride, great sport coupe looks and a comfortable, sports car-inspired cabin to the equation. The new C30 T5 R-Design Polestar is all about attitude, and it has the look and performance to back it up. Last year, Volvo designers gave the C30 an all-new front end, with a radically altered fascia, fenders, trapezoidal headlights and honeycomb grille wearing an enlarged Volvo iron mask. Along with the angled lines from the front bumper, the headlight style reinforces the impression of speed and sport. The contours of the muscular rear bumper were made curvier and more dynamic with a spoiler mounted to the top of the glass liftgate and uniquely styled diffuser with wide, dual chrome-tipped exhausts. The ten piece aero kit gives the car an even more aggressive stance and further lowers the center of gravity, increasing its already great handling capabilities.

Moving the new C30 T5 R-Design Polestar is Volvo’s 2.5 liter, all-aluminum, variable valve timing with variable intake timing, turbocharged, five-cylinder engine that generates 227 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 236 pound-feet of torque at 1,500-5,000 rpm. The potent engine is mated to a standard, smooth shifting short throw six-speed manual or an optional five-speed Geartronic automatic with a sequential manual shifting gearbox turning the front wheels. We tested the six-speed and found it to be easy to change gears, up or down, making the ride even more fun, easy and exciting to drive. Thanks to its compact size and clever aero design, the Volvo C30 T5 R-Design Polestar is as fun to drive as it is to admire. I couldn’t believe how many people come over to me when getting out of or into the car when parked to ask who the automaker is. When we tell them it’s a Volvo they can’t believe it until they noticed the Volvo marque on the front grille. Its generous front and rear tracks and relatively long wheelbase contribute to inspiring and stable driving characteristics. The chassis, with MacPherson front suspension and a multi-link rear axle, is optimized to provide outstanding control and precise response to our inputs, and it really does. The tubular strut tower brace only adds to the road hugging capabilities. It wants to go faster and to drive harder, a true mark of a performance sporty coupe. A sport chassis, standard on the C30 T5 R-design Polestar, provides enhanced chassis dynamics and steering reflexes. Compared to the T5, spring stiffness for the R-Design is increased by 30 percent while the dampers feature a mono-tube design that builds-up pressure quicker for 20 percent increased low-speed damping. Steering is more precise thanks to stiffer bushings and a 10 percent quicker steering ratio. Slowing the new C30 T5 R-Design Polestar down from speed are steel disc brakes at all four corners. Up front are 11.8 inch vented rotors clamped with dual-piston calipers, and 11 inch solid discs clamped by single-pistons calipers.

The feel is very strong and linear, smoothly and quickly slowing down for traffic up ahead or for stop lights and stop signs, but you’ll love the take-off as this Volvo gets to 60mph from a standstill in just 6.2 seconds. Standard ABS, EBD, BA, Traction Control and Stability Control all work together to keep you in control during severe braking maneuvers. This Volvo rides on large 18X7 inch Midir alloy wheels wrapped with 215/45R18 inch low-profile, high-performance radial tires for excellent grip, great traction and a compliant ride over poorly paved road surfaces. Open the doors and be greeted by a spacious, comfortable cabin with sport cues that you will appreciate. This model comes standard with power-adjustable heated front bucket seats that are comfortable and very supportive with a three-driver memory function. Also standard are automatic dual climate control, power glass sunroof, LED daytime running lights, soft-touch dashboard material, rear cargo cover, Volvo Premium Sound System with Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound, 10-speakers with 650-watts, XM satellite radio with NavTraffic, and a TomTom Navigation System with Remote Control. Sporty cues include a sporty and beefy three-spoke, leather wrapped and aluminum trimmed, tilt and telescoping steering wheel that feels great in your hands, a perfectly placed leather and aluminum stick shifter, easy-to-see blue lit gauge cluster, and aluminum/rubber insert foot pedals.

Standard safety features include Volvo’s patented front structure. Divided into zones, it incorporates different deformation properties with the outer zones accounting for most of the deformation in a front collision. To ensure that each zone has the right characteristics, the quality of the steel has been varied. Four different types are used. Different steel grades are also used in the rear to help protect occupants in the event of a rear-end collision. Also standard are four-three-point safety belts with front pretensioners/load limiters, front/side impact airbags, inflatable curtain side impact head protection, Volvo Whiplash Protection system with active front and four padded head restraints, tire pressure monitor system, rear foglamps, intelligent driver information system, LATCH rear child seat anchors and steel beams in each front door. The new Volvo C30 T5 R-Design Polestar is not your older neighbor’s Volvo. This new model turns heads, keeps you deep into your high back bucket seats are you cruise around looking for curves ahead to challenge quickening your pulse and bring more driving thrills and excitement to the Volvo brand. We are totally impressed with this new Volvo. © Words and pictures by Harvey Schwartz For more information about Volvo products, go to www.volvocars.com

SPECIFICATIONS Name: 2012 Volvo C30 T5 R-Design Pole Star Price: $35,720.00, as tested (includes destinations charges) EPA fuel economy rating: 21 mpg city / 29 mpg highway Engine: 2.5 liter turbocharged, all-aluminum, DOHC, VVT and intake timing Horsepower: 227 at 5,000 rpm Torque: 227 pound-feet at 1,500-5,000 rpm Transmission: Six-speed manual (five-speed automatic with sequential manual optional) Suspension: Front-independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, monotube shocks, stabilizer bar, tubular strut tower brace Rear suspension: Independent multi-links, coil springs, monotube shocks, stabilizer bar Brakes: Front-11.8 inch vented discs/dual-piston calipers Rear: 11 inch solid discs/single-piston calipers, ABS, EBD, BA, TC, ESC Tires/wheels: 215/45R18 inch low-profile, high-performance radials Dimensions Total length: 167.4 inches Total width: 70.2 inches Total height: 57 inches Curb weight: 3,200 pounds