PARIS – In conjunction with Volvo Cars unveiling of the all-new C30 at the recent Paris Motor Show, Volvo Cars of North America said that it will bring the car to the U.S. market no earlier than the 2008-model year. The announcement comes just nine months after the C30 design concept was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in early-2006. The C30’s primary markets will be in Europe, with the largest markets being Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain. Volvo Cars estimates global sales of the C30 at 65,000 units annually. Pricing and volume expectations for the U.S.-bound C30 have not yet been set. The C30 will represent a new segment entry for Volvo, one that will bring a younger buyer into Volvo retailers. Putting 218 horsepower to the front wheels, the new C30 is powered by a turbocharged, inline, five-cylinder engine that produces 236 lb.-feet of torque. Measuring in at just 167 inches in length, the C30 is the smallest member of Volvo’s model range — 8.5 inches shorter than the Volvo S40 sport sedan — while still retaining the 103.9-inch wheelbase. When it comes to safety, the new C30 will be available with a blind spot information system, which helps the driver to identify another vehicle in the blind spot at the rear sides of the car. Standard safety equipment includes the whiplash protection system, a side-impact protection system with side airbags, and the inflatable curtain. The front end incorporates the same patented multi-steel structure as the S40 and V50.