Thought you guys would get a kick out of this.
These are exerpts from this page:
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../60123012/1041

About the C30:
"Anne Belec, CEO of Volvo Cars of North America, says the car must have "a purity of concept." She is against equipping the vehicle as "small, cute and with a base engine."

She says: "It needs a great powertrain, great audio and great wheels. It's important for people to not think of it as a small car because then they expect small power and a small price."

Then about the Mini:

Article author:
'The Mini is considered a success despite its cramped interior and modest power.'

Anne Belec again:
"From an equipment basis, the Mini does not add up," Belec says, "but people have to have it because it's cool."

 

if the Mini doesn't add up, it wouldn't have sold in number much larger than planned, and it shows that the CEO of Volvo NA has no clue about this market segment.

Matt

 

Thanks for the link to the article, Kook. Who'll jump on the bandwagon next? Hummer, maybe?!

 

Well, I, like, totally just bought my car because it's, like, trendy, ya know? And so I figured that, like, as soon as it wasn't OC-cool anymore I'd just, you know, have daddy sell it to Britney or, like, whatever... but's it's, like, sooooo much better than that thing my grant aunt Melba drives -- it's like a Uvula or, um, I don't know -- something like that.

 

Looks like an old honda civic to me.

 

but if they did the turbo 5 and AWD, I'd be lusting after one! And think P1800ES.

Matt

 

Cramped interior??!???!!??

You've got to be kidding. I'm a fairly large person and the MINI is roomier than a lot of "luxury" cars. My mother used to have a Cadillac a couple of years ago (before she became a BMW owner) which had possibly the most cramped cockpit I've ever seen.

Chuck

 

This is what I was afraid of when I heard Volvo was taking a shot at a small car in the U.S. market. They have done a horrible job so far of appealing to younger buyers and I think they will screw up a great opportunity with a great car in the C30. This summer when I was shopping for a car I really wanted a Volvo S40 but I couldn't get any help from their snobby dealers to find the pricing and financing that met my needs. They weren't willing to help me because I was a younger buyer. Within minutes of walking into a MINI dealer I told them my requirements and they found a solution without any BS. It makes me sad because I have driven Volvos all my life and I like them, but I'm having so much fun in my MINI they may have lost a life-long customer. I even wrote them a letter but I received no response.

It's not about the equipment, it's about how it drives... But I will give Volvo some credit for improving in that area. I think Volvo will focus on the Cooper S territory and not try and compete with the lower priced Cooper.

 

That B*tch is an absolute idiot. No wonder Volvo continues to be a money losing brand for Ford Motor Co. The C30 better be a good car, otherwise I see her getting a pink slip from Alan Mullaly himself (CEO of Ford) in the very near future.

 

Volvo is the highest margin brand in Ford's PAG. They are responsible for the majority of its profit. Just keeping the facts straight.

 

LOL... I think Volvo's definition of "great" is not quite as high as, say, BMW's definition of great. Or perhaps she is simply trying to put some bad vibes out there to encourage some potential MINI owners to go Volvo. The last I read, Volvo's sales have been dropping. The new cool handsome look they got for their cars a few years ago is getting old and falling out of fashion.

My feelings on today's Volvos are based on some driving I did in a friend's Volvo S60 a few years ago. Back then I had a BMW 330i. I was amazed that BMW's entry level sedan was so far ahead of Volvo's near top of the line sedan in so many ways. (Although perhaps it is not such a surprise since a 330i can cost as much or more than an S80). The Volvo didn't feel as solid as the 330i, didn't handle as well, had a boring engine, and in the long run was less reliable.

 

Umm... no... Volvo is actually the one Ford brand that has consistantly turned a profit every year. Volvo was bought by Ford not because they were in financial need, but because the Volvo management felt they needed to align with a major manufacturer to reduce platform developement costs. And that goal was achieved. Perhaps you are thinking of Saab? Which was losing money before GM purchased the company...

The S40/V50/C30 is based on the European Ford Focus platform (also shared with the Mazda 3). Highly regarded as an excellent car... and should not be confused with anything Ford sells here.

That said, I agree the Volvo guy is missing the point about what makes the MINI so desirable. Fortunately, Volvo's sales goals for the C30 are conservative and there still hasn't been a firm commitment from Volvo that car will even come to the US... just a lot of rumors and between-the-lines conjecture.

As my g/f (JerseyGirl) and I own three '73 1800ES's between us, we are very insterested to see what the C30 looks like, how it drives, and how much it costs.

 

Volvo will be "the small car that "is'nt"
MINI will be the "the small car that IS"

 

The interior is so cramped that the MINI can accomodate drivers up to 6'8" tall!

The MINI's equipment added up, and still adds up, for me. It absolutely oozes with coolness.

 

The only reason that the MINI is cool is because MINIclo owns one!

 

The reason Volvo's sales have been dropping is due to an aging lineup. They are addressing those issues right now with the new C70, S80, and the C30(which remember was developed primarily for the European market and it should do quite well there, I think worldwide sales goals are 75,000 a year). Furthermore their line-up will continue to expand with a new smaller SUV and a new V70 and S60. Volvo will continue to increase its overall sales. Keep in mind that 10 years ago Volvo only had 2 aging models, the 850 and 960, so the last 10 years have brought about a lot of change and increase in sales and profits. Ford's purchase of Volvo has allowed it to improve and expand its line up and to have more money available for product development and advertising.

As for comparing Volvos to BMW, they have slightly different target markets. BMWs are made more for performance drivers and rich douche bags. Volvos are more snobby, family-oriented cars. All kidding aside though, Volvo has done a good job of carving out its own niche. It doesn't compete directly with the German brands and in Europe it isn't considered as much of a "luxury" or "premium" brand as it is here in the U.S. It's kind of in-between value brands and premium brands. And I'm not sure which model of the S60 you drove, but if you were comparing a base or even the light pressure turbo to the BMW 330i then of course the BMW would outperform it. The S60R would have been a much better comparison and it's still cheaper.

 

dropping? how do you drop further from the ground?

oh they dug a hole for themselves with the 360,000 car recall for limp mode
when driven at 15mph.. oh yah... ok..

jk having fun. but that CEO is not that bright.

 

Hmmm, as I recall Toyota has had a few recalls lately too. Japanese piles of crap...

They should make me the CEO

 

hey, no country name calling you ikea wannabie.

 

With the T5 and AWD... I'd have to give it a look. But if it's got the same horrid interior as the S40... no thanks

 

Hey buddy, Ikea = the greatest store ever!!!

Think about it, Sweden has Volvo, Ikea, and lots of hot blondes What more could you possibly ask for?

 

ok ok, you got a point!

 

Soon you may be seeing the, "Clark is moving to Sweden" thread...

I could trade in my MINI and buy a 600hp Volvo Amazon.

 

That right there is a a SWEET wagon!!!

 

I think BatGirlWildCat's black/pink mini is cooler than cool.

The Volvo marketing sounds to me like they're going after the Audi market. I'd druther have the Audi A3 than the C30. That is if I couldn't have my Mini.