#c30

Automakers have come a long way from the days of Henry Ford’s Model T. While many colors were available over the “Tin Lizzy’s” long production run, this rugged and bare-bones vehicle was only offered in black for many years. Talk about choice!

After checking out the top 10 best selling vehicles of last year, it’s now time to take a look at the worst performers on dealerships lots.

As 2012 winds to an end, AutoGuide looks back at all the vehicles that received the axe this year, some that will be missed, while others surely won’t be.

In the sea of modified cars at the 2012 SEMA Show, it’s fairly easy to miss a few, no matter how hard you’re looking. We spotted this hidden gem in the form of a limited edition Volvo C30 Polestar Edition in the Ohlins booth.

Volvo has released a teaser image the upcoming 2013 V40, which will debut at next month’s Geneva Auto Show.

Swedish automaker Volvo is looking to shack up with a new mate in the hopes of making a fresh set of small cars. Their current compact, the C30 (above), is based on technology from former parent company Ford.

Volvo is angling in on BMW and Audi territory with a new five-door hatchback meant to target the same market as the 1 Series and A3 Sportback.

Volvo is currently working on developing several green technologies including an electric C30, a flywheel hybrid system and a diesel-electric plug-in hybrid system. This week, Volvo announced that it’s working on a more ambitious project -three unique range-extended electric drive setups. Volvo is working with the Swedish Energy Agency and the European Union to develop this technology.

The words high performance and Volvo aren’t typically used in the same sentence, but in recent years, Volvo has really put a new focus on developing sportier and more performance-oriented vehicles. While they probably still have quite a ways to go to change the customer’s perception that Volvos are mainly safe and boring vehicles, the launch of a performance-oriented line will go a long way in establishing Volvo a high-performance manufacturer.

Volvo has announced plans to develop and test a new flywheel kinetic energy recovery system. Volvo says the KERS system (or FKERS as Volvo calls it) is “a light, cheap and very eco-efficient solution that makes a four-cylinder engine feel like a six at the same time as fuel consumption drops with up to 20 percent.”

The KERS system is fitted to the rear axle of the car (displayed in video). When braking, the energy causes the flywheel to spin at up to 60,000 revs per minute. When the car starts moving again, the flywheel’s rotation is transferred to the rear wheels via a specially designed transmission. This will allow fuel efficiency to improve by 20%. Horsepower and acceleration are also improved under this system.

Volvo is planning to begin testing the system later this year with the hopes of launching it “within a few years.”

Check out the video after the jump!

Volvo is collaborating with Belgian technological and development specialist Flanders’ Drive to develop inductive charging for its model line up.

K-PAX Racing is taking their knowledge and expertise gained from racing Volvos on the track to expand their business portfolio with K-PAX Performance Cars. After winning the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ Championship in 2010, K-PAX Racing formed their sister company, K-PAX Performance Cars and have now debuted their first vehicle, the Volvo C30 GT.

Let’s get this right out in the open: Why do the Swedes get all the fun? How awesome is this Volvo C30 “Performance Concept” prototype? It packs a 405 horsepower and 376 ft-lbs turbocharged 5-cylinder T5 motor (similar to the one used in the Ford Focus RS500), all-wheel-drive, front-and-rear limited slip differentials, Öhlins suspension components, Brembo brakes, and, yeah…you get the idea.

The body kit is similar to the one used on the — defending champion — Polestar Racing STCC (Swedish Touring Car Championship) C30 race car. Polestar Racing is the official partner of Volvo Cars in the STCC and is used to winning on the track. Polestar Performance Power Operations is an aftermarket line of upgrades sold through the Volvo dealer network — and it appears they’ve applied a bunch of their tricks here.

It’ll be unveiled in full at the Gothenburg Motorshow, held from April 22-25 2010.

Full specs (in slightly broken English) and a video of the heavenly-sounding Polestar Racing STCC Volvo C30 embedded after the jump!

Volvo to chose the Frankfurt Auto Show to debut a mid-cycle makeover for the C30 premium hatchback.

Volvo will show an all electric version of its entry-level C30 hatchback at the Frankfurt Auto Show this September. News of the expected unveiling comes from the U.S.’s AutoCar, saying that the model will be displayed and driven at the Innovation for Life event, which will take place shortly after the auto show.