While the Volvo C30 may be a rare site on British roads it still represents a great way of getting a grown-up hot hatch.
The C30 has just been facelifted and given a fresh new look, and alongside that is a return for the popular R-Design specification that accounted for an amazing 80% of C30 orders when it was launched in 2007.
As well as smart visual enhancements, Volvo have decided to include the new Sports chassis that helps to make the Volvo C30 a better balanced and more agile drive.
The new chassis lowers the car by 10 millimetres, resulting in a lower centre of gravity, while stiffer bushings and a quicker steering rack help to improve responses from the steering. With 30% stiffer springs and reworked dampers the C30 is also more capable through the bends while stiffer anti-roll bars keep body-roll in check.
The R-Design spec gets a body-coloured body kit to give the car a much sportier look, while the new 17-inch five-spoke Cratus alloys (with 18-inch an optional extra) make the most of the lowered wheelarches.
On the inside are leather seats, a bit of aluminium trim and a scattering of R-Design logos.
There’s no news on prices or engine availability yet, but it’s unlikely to share the top-spec 5-cylinder turbo with the range-topping T5. The Volvo C30 R-Design goes on sale in 2010.
