December 2008

Vampires and Volvo

If you have a teenage daughter in your household, then it’s a safe bet you have heard about Twilight and the oh-so-gorgeous Edward Cullen.  Perhaps you have even seen Twilight in the theater.  While the vampires may be the stars of the movie, it’s the sporty Volvo C30 that steals the spotlight. 

 

Based on the New York Times bestseller by Stephanie Meyer, Twilight tells the story of Bella and Edward, a human and a vampire who fall in love and fight for their lives.  Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is an ordinary high school junior who just moved to Forks, a small rainy town in Washington.  There, she meets the mysterious and beautiful Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), a vampire who doesn’t have his fangs and comes from a family who chooses not to drink human blood.  Their romance is threatened when a new clan of vampires comes to town and threatens to disrupt Bella and Edward’s way of life.

 

It’s the good vampires versus the bad vampires.  If Edward is Bella’s prince, then the Volvo C30 is the carriage, which leads us to this question:  What makes the Volvo C30 the Edward Cullen vehicle of choice? 

 

Before we go any further, we first have to return to the book.  Rather than the sporty C30 we see on the big screen, Edward Cullen drives the Volvo S60R and apparently he’s quite the driver.  “He started the engine without another word, turning around smoothly and speeding back toward town.  We were under the streetlights in no time at all, still going too fast, weaving with ease through the cars slowly cruising the boardwalk.  He parallel-parked against the curb in a space I would have thought much too small for the Volvo, but he slid in effortlessly in one try.” 

 

While some Twilight fans may cry foul about the car switch, it’s understandable why this sporty coupe made it into the film.  The 2009 Volvo C30 is all about great design – inside and out – that delivers a “wow” factor. 

 

While ‘tweens, teens and even a few adults may sigh over the dreamy Edward Cullen, the Volvo C30 may elicit more than a few sighs.  Like Edward who, as some say, is dazzlingly beautiful, the Volvo C30 is striking, thanks to its unique Scandinavian exterior.  From its gentle sloping roofline to its distinct wheel arches and extreme curves, the C30 is certainly eye-catching.

 

It’s not just about good looks and charm; it’s also what’s on the inside that counts, and the Volvo C30 doesn’t let you down.  For someone who is a smooth driver like Edward, the C30’s turbo five-cylinder delivers 227 hp and reaches 60 mph in 6.2 seconds with the manual mission (6.6 seconds with the automatic) and is just what he needs.  When the bad vampires are chasing you, you need a ride that handles fast curves and tight corners with aplomb while still delivering an ultra-comfortable ride. This is what the C30 delivers.

 

If the 2009 Volvo C30 is good enough for Edward Cullen – and let’s face it:  at 107 years old, this vampire has seen a lot – it’s really good enough for us mere mortals.