The C30 was one of Volvo’s most daring projects under Ford’s management, and it was a spectacular hatchback offered in only one body shape.
In 2001, Volvo showcased the Safety Concept Car, or SCC, at the Detroit Motor Show, which featured a revolutionary concept of see-through A-pillars and an interior designed for women, with a dedicated storage area for a purse. Peter Horbury, Volvo’s chief designer, stated that “Concept cars are an excellent way of providing a glimpse of the future without being constrained by a specific design. They help us to make wise decisions in our development work.” Five years later, the Swedish carmaker introduced the C30 as a production-ready model at the Paris Motor Show.

The compact hatchback featured a front area similar to those found on other Volvo models, but its main ingredient was the rear windscreen. It was the only car on the market that didn’t feature a tailgate. Only the big glass area was opening, resembling the former glory Volvo P1800SE. Its sculptured hood featured a V-shaped taller center side. From the profile, it showed its unusual shape, especially for a Volvo. The raked-forward C-pillars and the rear windows exposed a fresh design idea, with tall taillights mounted left and right of the rear windscreen.

Inside, Volvo installed a floating-design for the center stack, with a storage compartment behind it. The C30 carried over the SCC idea from the SCC, and later on, it was implemented on other Volvo vehicles. Horbury said that it is a car for someone who doesn’t have children, enjoys an active lifestyle, and wants to try something different. The C30 offered plenty of room for the front passengers and very limited for the rear ones.