One of three customized Volvo C30s at SEMA this year, this is the car that would result if you put a Formula One car and a C30 in a blender. And then presumably painted it bright yellow. Volvo wants this to be their ultimate attention getter, combining cutting edge design and motorsports technology.
The Evolve team added six inches of width to the rear fenders of this C30, giving it an incredibly muscular stance. Why? Because under the hood lurks a 507-hp monster. The 2.5-liter inline-five uses sequential twin turbochargers to create a massive 468 lb-ft of torque, enlisting the help of a clever intercooler that uses the air-conditioning system to help cool intake air. A six-speed manual sends the power to all four wheels using a custom Haldex all-wheel drive system.
And if you think the engine is impressive, get a load of this: The front brake calipers are a fourteen-piston billet aluminum design. By comparison, the rears seem almost pedestrian at "only" six pistons per piece. The rotor sizes are just as impressive - 15.2 inches front, 14.3 in the rear. And these massively over-proportioned brakes don't just help the C30 stop quickly, they also help it launch. How? Evolve developed a mechanical and hydraulic parking brake system that works on the front wheels - it holds the car still while the driver builds turbo pressure, for an insanely brutal getaway.
Evolve didn't skimp in the suspension department, either. They fabricated a custom strut-type rear suspension to deal with the all-wheel drive system, using Eibach springs and Koni double-adjustable shocks. This SEMA show-stopper rides on nineteen-inch wheels with single center-nut fasteners. The rears are fourteen inches wide, featuring insanely wide 355-width Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tires.
Inside, Evolve welded in a six-point race cage and recovered the seats in custom upholstery. But with more than 500 horsepower and a chassis to match, who cares about that stuff? Please, Volvo, let us drive one!