I checked out Volvo's site today to see what their C30 "custom build" program was all about. They have learned a lot from Mini, with lots of customization options available through the factory.

On the outside, there are 15 or so different colors, many of which are available with a contrasting color for the body kit.

So you can have a 2-toned car (options are limited to what Volvo considers complementary colors - you won't see any green-and-red cars from the factory):



Or a 1-color car:


The interior looks quite nice in a simple, Scandinavian way. Here there seem to be 3 levels of luxury, each available with different color combinations for dashes and carpets. You can also spec aluminum, wood, patterned aluminum or white for the center console.


From there Volvo offers various extra bits like additional aluminum trim, aluminum or wood-trim steering wheel, etc. Other than the Mini, I don't think you'll find another car with so much custimization possible. Hopefully this is the wave of the future.

 

I was surprised how many things were extra cost options, even with the more expensive base package. I managed to load one up well over $40k

 

just looks like another car. not much character like our MINI's. what did they
actually learn?

 

They learned how to make a lot more money on the car by not including many things in the base price and letting people option the car up the way they want it, which means they'll probably put a lot more stuff on it, which means it'll cost more...........

Oh, and the car looks pretty good in person, if a bit plain inside. I saw one at the car show last March and got to sit in it...............

 

What they learned is that people (of a certain, desirable demographic) like to have lots of choices when it comes to outfitting their cars. I'm not saying a C30 is as fun to drive or as iconic as a Mini, if that's what you're getting at.

Rather than offering a choice of black or gray mouse fur interior, offer a variety of colors, color combinations, and materials as well as options for different accent materials.

Rather than offering 5 standard exterior colors, increase the spectrum so people don't see themselves coming and going wherever they drive. Volvo is even worse than MINI at offering a range of gray and silver metallics rather than fun colors, but the 2-tone body kit option helps. Why be silver when you can be 2 different tones of silver?!

Take a look at a Mazda 3 or VW or Honda online configurator, then go through the C30's and you'll see what I mean. The only company I've seen offering anything close is BMW, but their cars are much more expensive.

 

oh, i see wat you mean. i think Benz does an ala carte too.. with a HUGE
list of options. :impatient

i kinda like how Acura only has like 2, 3 options for their trims.

 

It's also interesting to see the high end-small car market building, ours, Fiat's new 500, the Volvo, BMW 1 series, I guess benz was a little ahead of the curve with the C230 coupe(no longer in the USA). I think people are discovering how much fun small cars are again and how little they give up in utility for real world use. I've owned 3 Volvo's and wil probably buy again in the future and find them to be very nice cars-not fun in MINI terms but nice is other ways-best seats in the business for one. They are a little austere for some but there Swedish so it fits and as I have unfortunatly tested the safety of a S60 I can say they are amazing in that regard.