22 Nov 07
I am a big fan of Sweden and all things Swedish. Everything about the country and its inhabitants is very clean, from their way of life to the way they design the products they live with.
The design of Volvo cars very much reflects this aspect of the Swedish character. However, it's often Volvo's safety record that is the first thing that people think about: one friend described them as '40,000 air bags tucked in to a bulletproof family transportation unit'. Well, I disagree - which is why I'll be using the new C30 as my Speakers Corner platform.
I first set eyes on the car, in its concept form at the British International Motor Show in July 2006. At last: a new, sporty Volvo hatchback, not another family car. I spent the next few months with everything crossed, hoping it would drive as well as it looked.
The press launch showed that the car met my expectations and a year later, parked outside my house, in its concept colours and trim - Cosmic White Metallic SE Sport.
The delivery driver said: 'You'll like this, it goes. I mean really goes.' Its T5 petrol engine, mated with the manual 'box, may generate 230bhp, but it does have to propel a not very sylph-like 1,437kg.
Over the next six months I'm hoping to eke out its inner Darcey Bussell and champion a new image for Volvo. But first I must go and get myself a lifestyle.
