This is one of those good news, bad news stories: after teasing us with the 405 horsepower, all-wheel-drive Volvo C30 Polestar concept last year, the automaker best known for building safe grocery getters has decided to put a version of the car into limited production.
If thats the good news, heres the bad: the C30 Polestar that youll be able to buy at your local Volvo dealer will come packing 250 horsepower instead of 405, and only the front wheels will be driven. On the bright side, that makes Volvos Smurf-blue (Rebel Blue, technically) hot hatch affordable by a much wider range of buyers.
In addition to the 250 horses, the turbocharged 2.5-liter in-line five will also make 273 pound-feet of torque. If youre keeping score at home, thats a gain of 23 horsepower and 37 pound-feet of torque, thanks to Polestar-revised engine management software. Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic gearbox, and Volvos Sport Chassis (with monotube dampers, stiffer springs, harder bushings and quicker steering) is standard.
Inside, theres upgraded leather seating surfaces (in black or two-tone), aluminum chronograph-style instrumentation and a plaque identifying your car as one of just 250 built. Outside, buyers get any color theyd like, as long as that choice is Rebel Blue (which, honestly, looks just like Fords Grabber Blue to us). Theres a tasteful body kit, too, plus 17-inch matte black wheels and Polestar badging to remind others that this is no ordinary C30.
While its easy to pan the car as being a sheep in wolfs clothing, Volvo is in the business of building safe and reliable cars first, and providing entertainment value isnt its primary mission. Sure, Volvo could have produced the 405 horsepower C30 Polestar concept, but thats a lot of strain to put on a 2.5-liter engine, especially one with a factory warranty. Then theres the cost to consider, and we cant imagine too many buyers willing to spend Porsche 911 money to buy a tuned, entry-level Volvo.
Were fine with Volvos choices for the C30 Polestar Limited Edition, and were sure it will have no trouble selling all 250 copies. If you want one of your own, the price starts at $32,445, including the required $895 destination charge.
Via: 2013 Volvo C30 Polestar Limited Edition Gets The Green Light
2013 Volvo C30 Polestar Limited Edition Gets The Green Light Gallery
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