The Volvo C30 T5 has just about the most comfortable seats of any car
in the Press Fleet ~ which follows a Volvo tradition that includes light clutch,
direct steering, tight turning circle, great interior space utility and a space-frame
chassis safety-cage that shows Volvo’s long history of concern and success with active and passive occupant safety.
The roots of the C30 T5 go back to the Volvo 1800 ES Wagon. The 1800 ES Wagon came to the US in 1972 and 1973. The clean lines and sporty all-glass tailgate made it look sporty. It didn’t hurt sales that Roger Moore drove an 1800 coupe in the very popular television program “The Saint.” And as opposed to the 1950s stylings ~ that preceded it and the “let’s make lots of boxes, nice boring boxes” that followed it ~ the 1800 Series was stylish and attractive.
In the 1980s, following the lead provided by Saab, Volvo starting turbocharging their cars. Even posting ads in 1985 stating that the Volvo Sportwagon matched the acceleration of the Lotus Esprit Turbo. This was
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good, because earlier Volvos came in three speeds, slow, slower and “ I just got passed by a horse.” In the last few years Volvo has discovered something that Detroit has known for five decades ~ style sells.
