Is Volvo's Polestar Concept What It Needs To Jumpstart The Brand?

Volvo is one of those brands that seems to be getting over a rough May.

Year-over-year in May 2010 sales were down 16.5 percent, while most firms reported a bounce in their step. Even Chrysler reported over a 30 percent increase -- granted, we do not know how much of that is in fleet sales (wink).

Bottom line, what is the problem here? A plethora of its products have been refreshed and after a recent drive of the 2011 C30 I can confidently say its vehicles are well made, although priced high.

Is the firm just lacking excitement? Would a car like the Polestar concept even reinvigorate the brand or would it go unnoticed?

Take a look below at Autocar's recent drive of the C30 Polestar.

**Please make note of its Gallardo-esque exhaust note c/o its five-cylinder powerplant.

What say you, Spies?

Volvo's press release follows:

U.S. Sales Up 2.2 Percent Year-to-Date

ROCKLEIGH, N.J. (June 2, 2010) - Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, (VCNA) reported U.S. sales of 4,659 units, a 16.5 percent decrease from May 2009. Year-to-date sales are up 2.2 percent over the first five months of 2010.

In Canada, Volvo sales were down 16.9 percent in May with a total of 642 vehicles sold. Year-to-date sales are up 6.3 percent in Canada.

Continuing to contribute to Volvo's sales success is the Volvo Safe + Secure Coverage Plan. A complimentary coverage program, the Safe + Secure Coverage Plan wraps a comprehensive list of benefits into one package. Volvo has combined additional time and mileage limits on warranty repairs and roadside assistance coverage, and has increased wear-item and factory scheduled maintenance coverage. Specifically, it provides:

5 years/60,000 miles of New Car Warranty
5 years/60,000 miles of Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance
5 years/60,000 miles of Wear and Tear Coverage
5 years/Unlimited miles of Volvo On Call Roadside Assistance.

The Volvo Safe + Secure Coverage Plan provides best-in-class coverage, provides the lowest cost of luxury ownership (according to IntelliChoice) and has been a major contributor to Volvo's recent sales success. It has been extended through June 2010 and is available on all new vehicles in stock.

[Source: SwedeSpeed]



[Source: Autocar]








2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder Photo Gallery

Bimmerfest 2010 Photo Gallery

2011 Porsche Cayenne USA Launch

2011 BMW New Product Showcase

2011 BMW 5-Series USA Production Photo Gallery

AutoSpies.com Photo Galleries

If you want to see your photos running on our homepage photo ticker, be sure to upload your photos on the go by sending them to Mobile@AutoSpies.com

Share on Facebook

Read Article

Agent00R - 6/8/2010 10:45:28 AM

+1 Boost

To quote a good friend: "This is a Volvo that actually makes me want a Volvo."

The stock C30 is a good car too, just a bit too much $ and not roomy enough for my spec -- I am 6'8.

Steve - 6/8/2010 10:50:45 AM

+3 Boost

My memories of Volvos include the following: "Buy a Volvo. They're eboxy, but they're good" (from the movie "Crazy People"). Rust. Eccentric artsy people with a tweed jacket and patches on the elbows.

I don't know how many others are like me, but in my case, that's what Volvo is up against: Changing that consumer mindset.

JUGNU - 6/8/2010 1:44:24 PM

+1 Boost

To me C30 is the best looking car in it's class and with the new 230BHP engine makes it a great hatch.

JUGNU

lexusrox123 - 6/8/2010 1:58:02 PM

+2 Boost

LOL, "polestar"... Sounds a little raunchy to me.

mini22 - 6/8/2010 8:21:45 PM

+1 Boost

It would certainly not hurt. However I think the new S60 is really the new face and dynamic of Volvo. It has a better chassis out of the box then a C30 does. The Polestar would be good to revive Volvo's small car or coupe effort. I think Volvo should do a detuned version of say 280-300 HP and AWD. Price it at Golf R levels and it should do well.(32 grand).I also think Volvo should do a real fast back coupe again(no not C70)but hark back to the P1800.