2008 Volvo C30 Version 1.0 - Elevated Status
Two Elevate-tuned 350whp Volvo C30s with big-turbo conversions and plenty of style
Until Don Nicholson entered the late-model Volvo tuning world, Volvo fans had very few outlets for aftermarket performance parts. Unlike BMW, VW, Audi et al, the North American Volvo enthusiast had scant pickings. That's not to say there aren't any, with ipd, Polestar and K-Paxx springing to mind, but finding quality parts for your Volvo can be a challenge.
"I come from a family of hot-rodders," explained Nicholson, owner of Elevate. The bug bit after buying a 740 Turbo to haul his kids. "Before long I was commissioned by Volvo to build two S60R for its 2003 SEMA booth, and it kept growing from there!"
Fast forward to '06 and Nicholson, founder of Evolve (later changed to Elevate) was again commissioned to build a C30 for SEMA and he decided to create the wildest C30 ever seen.
The insane creation would be painted a wild shade of yellow over custom fenders that housed an AWD system, center-lug wheels and 386mm rotors with 14-piston calipers, all controlling a twin-turbo motor. "Unfortunately, we've never built another AWD conversion, or had a customer ask for the crazy brakes; probably because they cost $30,000 a pair to build!" he laughed.
Test Mule
The AWD SEMA car put Nicholson on the map and, in a matter of months, the car landed on the 4/07 cover ofeurotunermagazine. Unfortunately, Volvo eventually came calling for its car and without a C30 of his own, Nicholson decided to purchase his own shop car. "I acquired a Brilliant Blue C30 Version 1.0 in '07 with the sole purpose of designing parts for the C30 and P1 platform it shares with the S40 and V50," Nicholson said.
Back then, there was no T5 or R-Design variants. It was just Version 1.0 (base model) and Version 2.0 with a front spoiler, fender flares, side sills, rear wing and bigger wheels. In fact, it would later become the R-Design.
Over the years, his C30 would become the test mule for an entire line of Elevate parts. In fact, it helped to develop Elevate's 3" downpipe and exhaust system, along with a popular cold-air intake and new inlet manifold. "The ECU is mounted to the factory air box to keep it cool because after lots of R&D I found that most open-air systems don't adequately cool the ECU. So it took lots of trial and error to sort out the details," Nicholson said.
Speaking of details, you should see the inlet manifold: apparently adding a few ponies to a stock car, but with the potential for 26hp and up to 22 lb-ft when the motor is highly modified. "The stock plastic intake manifold can burst under high boost, so I designed a high-flow aluminum upper manifold that mounts to a ported lower unit with a spacer. This keeps the temps down while increasing airflow," Nicholson explained.
Other motor mods developed on this very car include AN external oil cooler and turbo control valve. It also has a larger intercooler - double the size of the stock part with larger 2.5" piping to remove further restrictions.
This bolt-on combination would help Nicholson develop several tuning packages. Without the cold-air intake, the car made 251hp and 340 lb-ft at the wheels using the small stock turbo. This translated to 72hp and 79 lb-ft over a stock C30 2.5L turbo.
The test mule was subjected to more than just motor experiments; a torque mount was eventually created, for example, to isolate engine vibration while reducing movement under wide-open throttle. "I tested ten different torque mounts and gradually perfected the unit over the years. So the current version is the production unit and I'm finally satisfied," Nicholson continued.
