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Swedish automaker Volvo has never been one to promote performance over style. Actually, they have never been one for flashiness either. What the company takes seriously, though, is automotive safety. On this end, few can question their standing as one of the world’s safest cars. But every so often, Volvo goes a different route - ’naughty’, as they once called it. This time, though, they’ve decided to give one of their models - the C30 - a more up-scale treatment. Called the "Black Design" edition, this limited run C30 only has 600 units and is only available in Italy. It’s got enough exterior upgrades to drive up the car’s overall design, which if we’re honest, is actually one of the nicer ones in its class. But before people start drooling over what appears to be plenty of carbon fiber used on the Black Design, you guys need to know that the material isn’t exactly carbon fiber. What is it? Well, head over after the jump and find out. Exterior and Interior Built in cooperation with Eidon and Berman, two companies that specialize in building special edition vehicles, the Volvo C30 Black Design is a definition of an otherwise mundane three-door Swedish hatch that has been given a an aggressive style make-over. The car features a number of new key elements, the most notable of which is the DI-NOC film (3M) that’s made of a surface adhesive carbon fiber finish. It’s not carbon fiber, but it certainly looks like it. This material was put on the C30’s roof, side frames, grille frames, and side door mirrors. While the DI-NOC film pretty much stands as the most eye-catching element of the C30 Black Design, Volvo still diversified the new options on the car, including new side sills, LED daytime running lights, and a set of 17” Fondmetal matte black alloy rims. Meanwhile, the interior was left largely untouched except for the interior trim, which was upgraded from the standard stock to T-tech fabric. Performance The Volvo C30 Black Design comes with a number of engine options, including a base model that’s powered by a 1.6-liter D2 diesel engine that comes with 115 horsepower. Other engine options include a 2.0-liter D3 diesel engine with 150 horsepower and a 2.0-liter gas engine with 145 horsepower. Pricing As with all the engine options, the price tag for this special edition varies. The base D2 model costs €19,600 ($27,900), followed by the D3’s €23,300 ($33,200) price tag. Meanwhile, the 2.0-liter gas model retails for € 21,450 ($30,600). CompetitionA number of other European brands have models that compete directly with the Volvo C30, including the Volkswagen Golf and the Audi A3. Aesthetically speaking, we like the C30’s design better than its German counterparts, both of which looks completely tamed and mundane compared to the sleekly-styled Volvo hatch. But when it comes to the engine, the C30 falls remarkable short against the A3 and the Golf. The A3’s base 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine produces 200 horsepower compared to the C30’s relatively paltry 145 ponies. When it comes to the Golf, though, the numbers aren’t all that apart from each other with the C30. The Golf comes with a base 2.5-liter five cylinder engine model that produces 157 horsepower. The question is now, would you prefer the aesthetically-pleasing-made-even-more-stunning-looking Volvo C30 Black Design or more powerful options like the VW Golf or the Audi A3? Seeing as this is a question only our Italian friends can answer, we’ll leave it up to them. If we had our choice though, we’d take a real good look at the special edition C30 Black Design. For that price, it’s pretty affordable too.   Aesthetics look rich and classy
Number of options to choose from
Reasonably priced
Is it really carbon fiber?
Not a lot of interior upgrades
Avalable only in Italy
45 comments: Volvo C30 Black Design The exterior looks classic and elegant. I’m glad there’s a lot to chose from. The thirty thousand dollar above was quite reasonable.
 I like its platform. Very aesthetic and classy looking car. I love its exterior details, plus the fact that it is being sold in a reasonable price. Too bad it is only available in Italy.
 Well bad thing it is only available in Italy, why is that? I must agree in the article that it is one of the nicer one in its class. It is so luxurious and classy; it is a nice decision to upgrade its over-all design.
 I just only hope that they would also sell this one to the other country and not only on Italy. I bet lots of Italians are really excited to this.
 Well, the total appearance of this is like a remarkable car unit, And based to its exterior its firm outlook gives the biggest competitor with the highest capacity to travel in a high-speed.
 Volvo is not after the looks. They are after the safety of the car. However, even if they’re not after the looks, still they manage to make it look elegant and refreshing.
 Volvo is not after the looks. They are after the safety of the car. However, even if they’re not after the looks, still they manage to make it look elegant and refreshing.
 Its engine is really a big disappointment on it. I think Volvo should truly boost it more so that it could truly offer a nice and awesome packaged. Anyway, just like them, I’m as well satisfied with its looks.
 I love the classy and rich image of this C30 Black Design. I just only hope that they would also sell this one to the other country and not only on Italy. I bet lots of Italians are really excited to this.
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Posted on
02.17.2012 @ 02:42