This is How I Roll!..

I couldn’t have chosen better wheels to enjoy the journey from Cape Point to Cape Town—especially considering the empty stretch of about 29km of freeway between my starting point and final destination. The vibration of the engine worked its way up my spine, like Morse code tapping out a message: I need to be floored!

It’s quite invigorating prowling up behind a BMW 3 series or an Audi S series in the Volvo C30 T5 that’s primary focus for the last few years has been its obsession with safety. The acceleration from 0-100 in six seconds is pure exhilaration. The engine’s primal sound is awesome. A bit of a let down where interior trim comes into play, especially given the plush, padded nature of the cabin’s front half.

Other dilemmas are the slow forward motion of the front seats on their electric motors when people want to get in the back, the small glovebox and the cheap, monochrome LCD characters in the information display. That said, the ‘floating’ centre console does look good, though.

Even with its 10 per cent faster steering response time, at high speeds one is inclined to hold onto the multi functional steering wheel with both hands. It’s a bit like riding a mechanical bull. Idling at a robot, you simply can’t wait to hear the “oohs” and “aahhs” from pedestrians in shock following a short four-wheel spin and devilish speed to the next intersection.

This chariot of fire with its 18’’ alloys, sexy curves and sports suspension cocooning a more-than-modest 2.5l turbo-charged engine offers complete new meaning to the term “in the knick of time”.

The renewal of the C30 has been more comprehensive than is usually the case with Volvo's models. The entire front has been redesigned which gives the car a radical new appearance from the front, carving out a distinctive personality. This, coupled with the angled lines of the front bumper and the new headlamps, reinforces the impression of speed and sportiness.

The C30—boasting a roaring output of 169kw—is set to replace all vehicles in its class as the trendiest hatch in town.

Since Volvo’s birth in 1927, quality craftsmanship has been the name of the game and that’s the beauty of the C30 T5. It doesn’t look out of place in any situation, whether you are wearing jeans and a t-shirt or a suit and tie. It has charisma, stance and energy. And no matter what kind of music you enjoy—hip hop, Gregorian chants or the karaoke version of umshini wam—the high-performance  sound system will play it flawlessly.

Volvo is Latin for “I roll” and I believe this Swedish car manufacturer will continue to excel at luxury and performance, and that it will be a popular choice for how many individuals choose ‘to roll’.