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      06-07-2010, 07:36 PM   #1
Robert
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M1's unlikely competitor

The Volvo C30 by Polestar


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Earlier this year, Volvo and Polestar debuted the C30 Polestar Performance Prototype hot hatch, showing what would happen if a Swedish touring car were tuned down for road car use. It's a menacing little devil, what with its turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five boosted to 405 horsepower, Haldex all-wheel drive, massive brakes and raft of other performance add-ons.

The team at Autocar recently had the chance to flog the Polestar C30 around Volvo's proving grounds, saying that the hatch feels like a well-sorted version of Mitsubishi's Lancer Evolution or even a "junior Nissan GT-R." High praise, indeed, and we don't doubt them. Obviously, we won't be seeing a production version of the vicious C30 anytime soon, but this exercise mostly shows what sort of performance machines could come from a partnership between Volvo and Polestar. This would certainly give BMW's M and Audi's S/RS divisions a run for their money, and we'll never complain about having too many hot hatches on the market.

Follow the jump to watch Autocar's test of the Polestar C30, and head back to our earlier post to read all the details about the road-ready touring car.
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/07/v...junior-nissan/

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      06-07-2010, 07:39 PM   #2
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Not really...the Polestar C30 is a 1 off. So how can it compete?
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      06-07-2010, 07:40 PM   #3
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Bah, Haldex is still fwd with a sprinkling of power distribution. Pass.

Find me an R32 or G1 TT that can put up consistently fast lap times and I'll buy into Haldex being okay.
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      06-07-2010, 07:57 PM   #4
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That guy is a gooba. He can't drive, his driving line was way off. I would take what he has to say with a grain of salt. The specs of the car sounds promising though.
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      06-07-2010, 08:33 PM   #5
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The C30 is a great car to do this with though. I love the lines of the car and my wife loves her C30. I wish Volvo would do some seriously tuned cars, perhaps they need to start a proper in house tuning shop versus the badge and bodywork "tuning" they're doing right now.
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      06-07-2010, 08:35 PM   #6
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Thats the engine they used in the new Noble M600.

T
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      06-08-2010, 05:08 AM   #7
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I think the potential M1 competitors are:
Porsche Cayman S / RS
Audi TT-RS
Audi RS3
Ford Focus RS500
Volvo C30-R
Alfa Romeo Giulietta GTA
Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Mitsubushi Lancer Evolution X
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      06-08-2010, 08:32 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Levi View Post
I think the potential M1 competitors are:
Porsche Cayman S / RS
Audi TT-RS
Audi RS3
Ford Focus RS500
Volvo C30-R
Alfa Romeo Giulietta GTA
Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Mitsubushi Lancer Evolution X
You forgot the Mustang GT...ohh wait that's M3 competition
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      06-08-2010, 12:38 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ///Mangler View Post
Thats the engine they used in the new Noble M600.

T
I'm pretty sure you're wrong about that. The motor in the C30 is a 5 cylinder turbo. I think the Noble M600 uses a twin-turbo V8 from the big crossover/SUV.
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      06-08-2010, 02:24 PM   #10
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Interesting car, but not destined for production making the kind of power in the concept vehicle, and the suspension would get dumbed down a bit....
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      06-08-2010, 02:35 PM   #11
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Definitely a cool car - color reminds me a little of Laguna Seca Blue, and the exhaust note is nice. Too bad the production C30 is nothing like this...
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      06-08-2010, 05:29 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Levi View Post
I think the potential M1 competitors are:
Porsche Cayman S / RS
Audi TT-RS
Audi RS3

Ford Focus RS500
Volvo C30-R
Alfa Romeo Giulietta GTA
Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Mitsubushi Lancer Evolution X
The ones I have hightlighted in bold are the only ones of a similar caliber of status and quality, things that might not bother some but to the majority, things lie status and quality are as important as those final few tenths of performance.

P.S.
Don't expect the RS3 to make it across the pond as this is a last minute decision by Audi to release this car and numbers will be limited, even for Audi.
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      06-09-2010, 04:26 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by footie View Post
The ones I have hightlighted in bold are the only ones of a similar caliber of status and quality, things that might not bother some but to the majority, things lie status and quality are as important as those final few tenths of performance.

P.S.
Don't expect the RS3 to make it across the pond as this is a last minute decision by Audi to release this car and numbers will be limited, even for Audi.
Ok. I agree. But the Subaru should definitely be on the list. The 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI did the N-Ring in 7:55 min.

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      06-09-2010, 08:27 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Levi View Post
Ok. I agree. But the Subaru should definitely be on the list. The 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI did the N-Ring in 7:55 min.
Not really, at least not an STI any can actually buy directly from a dealer. The "record" setting one was wearing Pilot Cups, running the turbo from the Japanese spec R205 and had some light weight components that are "under development." That's all fishier than GT-R lap times and about as meaningless.
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      06-09-2010, 08:57 AM   #15
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Holy Suby.. that's pretty ridiculous good time, and I don't care if it is with Pilot cups or not. I'm pretty sure 135i from the dealer currently isn't close to that.
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      06-09-2010, 02:47 PM   #16
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I agree with above - it's not a competitor since it's only a concept car. I think it's super tacky and sounds terrible too.
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      06-09-2010, 04:37 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grant View Post
I'm pretty sure you're wrong about that. The motor in the C30 is a 5 cylinder turbo. I think the Noble M600 uses a twin-turbo V8 from the big crossover/SUV.
They showed the 5cylinder under the bonnet on the Top Gear episode that reviewed it from what I remember. I may be wrong, but I seem to recall that.
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      06-09-2010, 05:24 PM   #18
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2011 STI sedan (slightly modded) lapped Nurbugring in 7:55.
I wanna see M1 do that.
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      06-16-2010, 11:54 AM   #19
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There's a whole page article on this in Autoweek's last edition. Seems more like a 1-off prototype than anywhere near production ready. With the Chinese taking over Volvo, I doubt performance is their priority...
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      06-18-2010, 12:36 AM   #20
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Mustang?

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Originally Posted by BrokenVert View Post
You forgot the Mustang GT...ohh wait that's M3 competition
When has a mustang ever been compared to a BMW or even competed for market share?

Get off your mustang ban wagon! I would like to see ford take this to the ring and see what it can do? that would be a true test on how well this car can handle a demanding race track; not just a 1/4 mile straight line.I bet a 135I can lap faster and an M3 would destroy it!
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      06-18-2010, 12:47 AM   #21
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i would say, its back is kind of ugly! not competition, nice wheels though
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      06-18-2010, 10:25 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trier Germany View Post
When has a mustang ever been compared to a BMW or even competed for market share?

Get off your mustang ban wagon! I would like to see ford take this to the ring and see what it can do? that would be a true test on how well this car can handle a demanding race track; not just a 1/4 mile straight line.I bet a 135I can lap faster and an M3 would destroy it!
Calm down man. People aren't necessarily jumping on a bandwagon, they are just recognizing how capable the new 5.0 Mustang is with the Track Package. Its performance is nipping at the heels of the M3, I think you'd be surprised. Now, that doesn't make it a direct competitor to the M3, but similar performance at a lower price point is nothing to scoff at.
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