It looks like new owners Geely are eager to get more fronts going at Volvo. According to reports, the Swedish brand is planning an entry-level offering that will compete with the Volkswagen Golf, as part of its product line expansion plans.
The next-generation Golf competitor will be derived from the current C30, according to the company’s new CEO Stefan Jacoby, who added that Volvo is also looking to shift its brand positioning towards functionality and Scandinavian elegance.
The where and when naturally remains to be seen, but there’s no doubting that just about everyone has their sights set on the phenomenal Golf, which speaks volumes about it.
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Volvo tried that before in the late 70’s after they acquired DAF’s automotive division, and the resultant compact hatchback was a successful model. Hope they can replicate the successful formula with these new plans!
phat hope… golf has been a success for hot hatches all this while. why would volvo want to compete. Just think of something else to do and stop disturbing VW’s tail.
I believe Volvo just wants to expand their product range. Nothing wrong with that. Based on your logic, cars like Porsche Cayennes, BMW X5s and Audi Q7s should not be manufactured as the Range Rover is the best in its class.
Btw, the best hot hatches are not by VWs but Renaults (not the most reliable but best in handling and performance).
i bet those that thumb down to VW comment are volve lovers.. volvo has their own strength which is safety, so just be it. Do more family cars and protect more life. STOP speculating they want to compete with VW for hot hatches. From my point of view, they are just jealous because C30 is not selling as good as Golf. Big BOO to volvo.
BTW, J.S, At lest they dont claim that they want to compete, probably just want to make it better. AND
please look at this link. renaults no doubt is good BUT golf still the best. Do your homework.
http://uk.autoblog.com/2010/04/24/hot-hatches-the-all-time-greatest/
1. My proficiency of the English language might not be that good but from what I understand, the article says they want to compete in the same segment with the VW Golf. Nothing mentioned with targeting the GTi. You know there are different specs for the Golf, right?
2. By the way, you should do your homework as well. The link you provided does not specify the cars in order. If they did, they will specify 1. 2. etc. Furthermore, you might have noticed the Renault in the list as well.
Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Likewise, those who did not do homework shouldn’t accuse others of not doing homework as well. ;-)
People give thumbs down to arrogant illiterate people like you who do not understand that it’s always better to have competition in the market and more choices for the consumer. Only arrogant people who are terribly ignorant could sound off their mouths without thinking twice and seeing the bigger picture.
c30 not golf competitor ah?? :unsure:
Nope. It’s more stylish, more spacious and more practical for moving people and luggage. It only loses out to the Golf (and GTI) in terms of performance and handling I guess.
Your guess maybe but bear in mind Volvo cars do manufacture some of the most powerful turbocharged direct injection and environmental friendly engines compliance with low C02 emission by today world market standard.
Look at the their latest Volvo D4 2.0 petrol engine
Horsepower not (PS *) = 203HP and Torque is 300NM
(whereby VW Golf GTI 2.0 TSI , horsepower is 207HP(or 210 PS) and Torque is 280NM )
Coming up
Volvo new T4 1.6 petrol engine is
Horsepower not (PS*) = 180HP and Torgue is 240Nm &
Volvo new T5 2.0 Petrol engine
Horsepower not (PS*) = 240HP and Torque is 320 Nm
These new Volvo engines set very respective and impressive figures by today world standard same as VW golf or GTI engines. (one of the best in the car industry )
With their vast engines technology capabilities It up to Volvo management to decide which engines variants shall be made available for the upcoming Hatchback.
Volvo cars had always provided great and very reliable powerful turbo charged engines previously and i believe they will not take a step backward as Volvo cars is always perceived higher premium over any VWs in Yankees and Europeans markets eventhough moving towards FUNCTIONAL and elegant scandinavian design.
Bear in mind as time passes, these Volvo engines do improve once again.
VW GTI or GOLF may not necessary have better engines than any Volvo cars unless VW keep up with their better future R&D .
We will know when time comes !!
Can you really claim the c30, 3 door 4 seater, is more practical than a 5 door 5 seater golf? It loses out to the Golf on FC as well as performance.
But anyway, the answer to pomen_gtr is that the c30 is a Scirocco competitor (or the Scirocco is a competitor to the c30).
I see Golf GTI everywhere, is it getting cheaper or what? Good work Volvo, show us something new!
malaysians getting richer!
ya i think i saw one just now. looks like a very small S40, was in shah alam just now, a funny looking volvo with stickers,
See, China-man wants to ‘shift the brand’s position towards functionality’. What does it mean? Increase popularity and decrease price? Don’t want to compete with Merc already?
So when Merc came out with their compact hatches.. that means they don’t want to be a luxury brand already? They’re planning to compete with Hyundai?
The super-uncool Volvo is trying to compete against the super-cool VW Golf? It’s so unbelievably and pathetically tragic, I don’t know whether to guffaw in incredulous hilarity or to cry in sympathy.
well i think all the new Volvo designs are much cooler than VW. VW excel in terms of power and technology. Volvo is more towards Family oriented design and safety aspects.
Actually VW is not considered super cool in most places. Only here VW is considered premium. Apart from their more performance-oriented vehicles (Scirocco, GTI, etc), VWs are considered quite boring.
Or at least it seems that way according to Topgear and Fifth Gear? :P
Wow. The Polo is so cool. So is the Golf. They look like they’re doing 200mph standing still. And I bet the new Passat looks like it can eat any other car for breakfast. Ya right.
Well Geely China you are the boss now and can decide on the direction of Volvo
unlike P1 who after 25 years is still directionless and was asking to be skinned alive
when they rebadged a Lancer and had the balls to call it their own.
Crush the Volvo with VW, then you see who will win. Volvo for life….
Then…u crush the Volvo with Renault, only then u’ll know which is the safest car…
Result is clear, Volvo will stay on the tarmac and Renault will be in the longkang.
Geely your first task is to rebrand the Volvo name
and the Volvo For Life motto has to go.
Good luck and looking for a leaner and meaner Volvo
in the near future.!
Really don’t know Volvo now is still as good as previously in term of safety. Are their cars still as strong as tanks?
Jimmy,
Volvo cars had always been strong built like a ‘tank’ in terms of safety due to their world renowed Safety research centre in Sweden.
Volvo emphasis on Strong safety cage with four different type of high strength steels are being used in the body construction whereby boron steel is one of them . FYI , Boron steel is one of the strongest and toughest steel ever produce in the world steel indusry being used by Volvo cars. Volvo is the first to used it by the way.
Does Japanese cars like ‘LEXUS’ and TOYOTA used Boron steel? . Answer: NO
So Volvo cars had always been and shall always be built stronger than any “JAPs ” cars in the market . That’s why we pay a higher premium for any Volvo cars in relation to any typical current “JAPS ” car..around.
VOLVO IS STILL FOR LIFE !!
Volvo S10 1.2 turbocharged, anyone?
Definitely Volvo for life…safety always come first.
But Volvo has any turbocharge engine?
If price is good, why not?
obviously u do not know anything about volvos…..
Wow.. is that sarcasm? Just because their mainstream turbocharged cars are using light-pressure turbos doesn’t mean they are not turbocharged cars..
volvo is long ago using turbo in its all model ….. it got soft turbo (boosting at 0.5bar) hi pressure turbo ( T4, T5, T6 ) and top of the range of their turbo engine is R model ( 850R, S70R, S60R)
If Volvo is to produce a Hatchback rival to the GOLF , Make sure it is make RWD for durabilty . toughness and good road handling wise .
RWD is so much better and not FWD . What a waste of investment if make FWD and it is not worth it at all
This is because FWD only allows driving preference like understeering and overloading the front wheels grip levels by doing something like accelerating or braking and steering at the same time..Furthermore most FWD had lots of drive shaft and engine mountings problem ( not lasting and durable at all ). If FWD , the car is always repairing or spent frequent the workshops .
Volvo For Life!
It’s time to give VW Gti a true competitor.
Unleashed the beast within Volvo!
for your info, volvo got their strong point why they swich their model from rwd to fwd and awd … try search …
Well, Mitsubishi took Persona and Exora to be rebadged, Mitsubishi got balls or not ?
Next time, read more instead, you are humiliating yourself, :)
Since when did Mitsubishi take Persona and Exora? According to this there have only been discussions:
http://paultan.org/2008/12/05/next-generation-proton-waja-to-be-based-on-the-mitsubishi-lancer-platform/
Other proposed areas that Mitsubishi and Proton are in discussions about include the rebadging of the Persona and the 2009 Proton MPV as a Mitsubishi in certain markets and the joint development of an A-segment hatchback (a new Savvy-sized vehicle), but when contacted by this blog, sources in Proton indicated these additional projects are at best only in discussion stages only, and not something confirmed.