Volvo to Build Golf-Rivaling Hatchback

Volvo Following BMW Down-Market to Do Battle with Volkswagen

Small is good. Small cars are

Volvo will enter the 'junior' ranks with its own compact hatchback, reportedly similar in design to the SCC and 3CC (shown) concepts. (Photo: Volvo Canada)

easy to park, easy to maneuver, and easy on gas. But small isn't limited to budget-friendly economy cars.

BMW has had great success exploring the smaller side of things with the MINI and the 1-Series, and Mercedes-Benz is no stranger with its A- and B-Class compacts. Benz even produces the world's smallest production vehicle, the Smart fortwo. In a surprising move, Volvo will enter the 'junior' ranks with its own compact hatchback, scheduled to hit the production line in 2006.

Dubbed the C30, this Swedish

Reports are that the design of the C30 was inspired by Volvo's Safety Car Concept (SCC). (Photo: Volvo Canada)

meatball is a small coupe designed to give the Audi A3, the two-door variant of the BMW 1-Series, and Mercedes-Benz's C-Class Sport Coupe a good run for their money. News of the car's arrival comes via this year's Detroit Auto Show, in which a series of sneak peak images were shown at the firm's press presentation.

From the few short glimpses of the slide presentation and from insider reports, we've learned that the C30 has a sporty and stylish two-door sportwagon body, with a styling theme that coincides with the brand's newfound modern image. One could liken the C30 to the similarly shaped, oddball 480 Coupe sold in Europe during the mid-1980s.