2008 Volvo C30 Efficiency

The Volvo C30 1.6D is already a very frugal vehicle at 48 mpg, but Volvo decided to improve upon it regardless. Enter the C30 Efficiency, which will be shown for the first time at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The Efficiency looks similar to a standard C30 from the outside, but it's the details that are important.

The C30 has been given a whole slew of fuel saving improvements. The aerodynamics have been improved with a new roof spoiler, bumpers, underbody panels, sixteen-inch rims, and an optimized engine cooling system. The ride height has also been lowered. Volvo has also given the C30 new low friction tires and a modified gear box with longer third, fourth, and fifth gears. Finally, the powertrain has been updated with low-friction transmission oil and an upgraded engine management computer.

Once the engineers were finished, the C30 Efficiency clocked in at about 52 miles per gallon. Not bad for a bunch of relatively minor upgrades and modifications.