This is the production...

This is the production version of the C30, which the firm hopes will give the BMW 1-Series, as well as the Golf, a fright in the tough premium hatchback market.

The newcomer is arguably the most important car the Swedish company has ever launched, because it will also steal sales from other challengers, including Audi"s A3, the MINI and mainstream machines such as the Ford Focus.

Volvo is banking on the C30"s sporty looks to do the trick. As you can see, the model stays faithful to the Detroit Motor Show concept, mixing the silhouette of the Eighties Volvo 480 ES with the wide waistline and steeply sloping tail of another Detroit star, the 2001 Safety Concept Car.

At the front, the nose is derived from the C70 and S40, with bold headlamps and a prominent grille. But it"s at the rear that the C30 really stands out, with horseshoe-shaped lights and stepped shoulders framing the glass tail-gate. Dark lower bumpers, wheelarches and side skirts add to the chunky look. A boot spoiler completes the design.

"The new C30 is a cool car," said Volvo president Frederik Arp. "It"s aimed at young singles or couples with a busy urban lifestyle; people who prioritise excitement in design and driving."

Using a shortened version of the platform underpinning the S40 (which itself is based on the Focus), the C30 is 4.25 metres long - about the same as a Vauxhall Astra. However, instead of having a three-seater bench at the rear, there are two separate chairs, mounted slightly towards the centre of the car to increase the feeling of space and give back passengers a better view out.

This layout means boot space is likely to be limited - although the glass tailgate should allow easy access. The C30 also gets Volvo"s neat trademark "floating" centre console, and even base models will come with a range of upholstery colour options.

Powering the newcomer will be several engines taken from the S40"s line-up. Entry-level variants get a 99bhp 1.6-litre petrol unit or a 108bhp 1.6 turbodiesel. Further up the range, five-cylinder units will be available in the form of a 178bhp 2.4-litre D5 turbo-diesel and a 217bhp 2.5 turbo petrol.

With its sporty looks and Focus/S40 underpinnings, the C30 should offer a fun driving experience with nimble handling. Equipment levels will be impressive, with stereos including a 10-speaker system for top-spec models from Danish firm Dynaudio.

Safety features across the range will include the maker"s Whiplash Protection (WHIPS) and Side Impact Protection Systems (SIPS). The C30 will be offered with Volvo"s Blind Spot Information Sys?tem (BLIS), which warns drivers of unseen vehicles approaching. The first cars will arrive in UK showrooms by the end of the year, priced from under ?15,000.