Now that's what I'm talking about

Someone once said Volvos were like the neighbors you wanted to have--quiet, conservative, boxy, safe--but didn't invite to your parties. Then something happened in the 90s, they began to shed their conservative image and started getting invited to more socials. By the turn of the century boxy Volvos were a thing of the past, having one in your garage no longer meant you led an uneventful existence. Two Volvo cars that we're excited about now are the XC60 and the C30. The XC60 is a compact SUV that was launched only this year. The C30 is a bit older, but it's notable for being one of the first Volvos you actually wanted. The only problem was the slightly female-centric design. Well, for me anyway, and I did say slightly. Now thanks to the new C30 SportsCoupe slated to be launched at the coming Frankfurt Motor Show, the C30 moves squarely into male territory. The front has been redesigned to give it a more aggressive stance, and the logo has been enlarged. Plus the T5 and D5 variants get dual tailpipes, something I never thought I'd see, nor appreciate, on a Volvo. But it works. Enhancements aren't just visual; Volvo is also introducing an optional Sports chassis package that lowers the car by 10 millimeters, improvements to the steering via stiffer bushings and lowered steering ratios. Springs, dampers and roll stabilizers are stiffer too. I'm still getting accustomed to just staring in admiration at Volvos. I hope it's a feeling I get used to.