Although less important in the U.S., hatchbacks of this kind are the most popular vehicle body style in Europe, making this new model vital to Jacoby's aim of reversing Volvo's recent sales decline.
Last year the company sold 335,000 cars globally — it has the capacity for 500,000 — but Jacoby says: "I believe a vision of 800,000 cars a year in 10 years' time is achievable. As a relatively small car company we can move quickly. Jacoby is also redefining Volvo's brand image, saying: "We need to focus on luxury.
2012 Volvo C30 has lost its distinguishing points as a product. In the Volkswagen Group [Jacoby previously headed up Volkswagen of America], everyone knew what each individual brand meant. Volvo at the moment is not sharp enough or in harmony with what the brand stands for. Jacoby would like to see the simple, elegant functionality of Apple products in Volvos. Also up for a rethink is Volvo's platform strategy. As far as engines are concerned, Jacoby considers them a "core competence." Next week, Jacoby and Volvo will be developing a new strategy for the U.S. market, where sales fell to 61,000 cars last year. It's a tough, competitive transparent market."
First you need consistency and sustainability. Inside Line says: A Golf-rivaling 2012 Volvo C30 should help Volvo in Europe, but whether Jacoby's reconfiguring of the brand image will help the marque enough remains to be seen.
Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. A system that you will soon see in a number of cars is the UniValve valve-lift system. Efficiency grows significantly, between 5.5 and 8.5 percent even if applied on the intake side only.
Even though Kolbenschmidt Pierburg’s core business is parts for internal-combustion engines, the company hugely profits from the trend towards electrification and increased efficiency. Fuel-saving technologies that the company peddled to carmakers for years with limited success now sell like hot cakes, according to CEO Gerd Kleinert. That includes variable pumps and low-friction products, lightweight components, etc.
While many recent concept cars might be well-suited for cramped European cities, several manufacturers claim their revolutionary (now we have to pay ourselves $1.50) cars are headed to our shores as well. Among dedicated hybrid models, Toyota’s Prius has nothing you could even call a rival. General Motors is targeting 10,000 sales for the Chevrolet Volt this year—that breaks down to over 830 cars per month—but while this month’s 281 units isn’t so hot, the car still isn’t available in all 50 states.
ach week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental.
Is carbon fiber replacing aluminum as the “cool” material to have?
Now the company is re-focusing on carbon fiber, and significant parts and panels could be used for series production vehicles as early as 2012.
GM’s control of Opel is underscored by design executive Liz Wetzel’s upcoming move to Rüsselsheim. The car has not been clearly defined yet. Buick gets a compact SUV based on the small Gamma platform (Chevrolet Aveo, etc.), and there could be a Chevrolet version of this SUV as well.
The R-Design is the sportiest member of the 2012 Volvo C30 lineup. The R-Design adds aesthetic differentiators like a full body kit with a monochromatic paint scheme, R-Design logos inside and out, matte-silver side-mirror housings, and 18-inch wheels. The company is currently testing a small number of electric C30s to determine the “viability of an entirely electric car.”
Alongside the (mildly) freshened C70 droptop it is debuting at the Frankfurt auto show, Volvo will be unveiling a likewise face-lifted C30 hatchback. There’s a larger trapezoidal grille, bigger headlights, and an overall smoothing of edges.
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