VOLVO teased the world's media at its press conference at the Detroit Motor Show with the first, strictly limited details and an exclusive 15 second film preview of a new model - the Volvo C30. The Volvo C30 will go into production in late 2006 and be the smallest model in the Volvo range, with a two-door sporty design inspired by two of its concept cars - the SCC (Safety Concept Car) first seen at Detroit in 2001 and the 3CC making its show debut this year.

Volvo's latest conceptcar, the 3CC, is the result of advanced research by the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Centre in California into the future of sustainable mobility, and has already proven its environmental efficiency at the recent Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai. It is now making its show debut in Detroit with first news of its advanced interior which incorporates a unique innovation for safety in small cars - the Volvo Safety Ride Down Concept.

A key issue for frontal impacts in smaller cars is controlling the occupants' forward motion so that they decelerate to a stop within acceptable limits. A long crash structure increases this stopping distance and reduces G-forces on the human body, so, in order to compensate for the 3CC's compact dimensions, the Volvo Safety Ride Down Concept effectively increases the stopping distance by allowing all the seats to move forward in a controlled manner by up to 20cm, along with the steering wheel and a movable dash panel, to reduce G-forces on the head and torso.

This system is also designed to help in rear impacts. The movement is controlled by adaptive shock absorbers (similar to those used in Volvo's optional Four-C chassis) that tailor the damping effect to suit the collision force and the weight of any occupants.

The moving interior also makes it easier to get into the rear of the car. Pressing a button on the door pillar conveniently slides all the seats forward and, in addition, as the doors open by swinging upwards, part of the dashboard and panel slides forward to ease ingress and egress. Despite its compact dimensions - similar to a classic two-seater sports car - the Volvo 3CC has been designed to feel spacious with a unique rear seat solution providing seating for an adult or two children.