Ready to roll into dealers here starting in November, the 2013 Volvo C30 Polestar Limited Edition matches a number of distinctive appearance elements with an even-more-potent version of the car’s standard 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-5 engine. Based on the C30 T5 R-Design in Premier Plus trim and developed in conjunction with Polestar — the automaker’s international performance and motorsport partner — Volvo will build only 250 cars to this specification, all destined for America.
Finished in new-for-2013 Rebel Blue paint set off with matte-black 17-inch Styx alloy wheels and special Polestar badges on its flanks and tail, the C30 Polestar Limited Edition also features the full R-Design body kit elements and grille treatment. Inside, leather upholstery in Off-Black or Off-Black/Calcite and a series number plate complement its long list of Premier Plus standard features in addition to R-Design elements that include a watch-dial instrument cluster, unique aluminum inlays, a sport steering wheel and sport pedals.
Adding a healthy dose of real performance to the mix, the C30 Polestar Limited Edition boasts a Polestar-developed software tweak to the engine’s computer that increases airflow to the combustion chambers and modifies the spark timing. Identical to the Polestar package currently available through Volvo dealers, the net effect of this enhancement is to raise horsepower from 237 to 250 and up peak torque from 236 to 273 lb-ft without impacting the car’s EPA ratings. Like the base trim C30 T5, the Polestar Limited Edition earns 21/29 mpg city/highway marks when fitted with the standard 6-speed manual gearbox and 21/30 mpg stats with the optional 5-speed Geartronic automatic cog changer.
Like the C30 T5 R-Design, this new Polestar Limited Edition feature the same chassis upgrades – stiffer springs and shocks coupled with quicker-ratio and more communicative steering setup – to enhance its dynamic character. It also benefits from rain-sensor windshield wipers and headlight washers that have become standard across the C30 lineup for 2013.
Pricing for the 2013 Volvo C30 Polestar Limited Edition opens at $32,445 — or $33,695 for a Geartronic-equipped version. It will also be available in Platinum trim guise that will add a 650-watt/10-speaker Volvo Premium Sound System with Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound, Sirius/XM satellite radio and navigation system with real time traffic, remote control and map care plus.
