The long-awaited entrant...

The long-awaited entrant into the fiercely competitive compact hatchback market is christened the C30, and will be revealed at the Detroit Motor Show next week. Auto Express has the first official pictures of the Swedish star, which is arguably the most important model the firm has ever launched.

As well as locking horns with the Golf, the production-ready three-door is being pitched against the Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series.

Our pictures show Volvo is pinning its hopes on a machine that mixes the firm"s modern design themes with a classic silhouette. The shape will be instantly familiar to anyone who has been in the sporty 480 ES from the late Eighties, although the steeply chopped tailgate and wide waistline also draw on the Volvo Safety Concept Car, seen at 2001"s Detroit expo.

With a body that"s shorter and wider than an S40, the C30 has a broad, purposeful stance. The nose has the current car"s angled headlights, grille and a lower air intake.

But at the rear is a glass tailgate, bold horseshoe-shaped tail-lights and distinctive exhaust pipes. The shape harks back to famous Volvos such as the P1800ES. Inside, the C30 has a high-quality dash with a floating centre console.

Bosses say they are aiming the three-door machine at single buyers and couples without children, reasoning that while rear space is important, it isn"t a priority.

However, with the two individual second row chairs positioned close to the car"s rear axle, Volvo claims there is enough room for adults in the back. Boot space is limited, although the tailgate gives good access and the rear seats fold flat for greater versatility - a key consideration for any buyer.

The newcomer shares its chassis with the Ford Focus and, in line with its sporty looks, should offer a comfortable but driver-focused experience. This is evident in the choice of engine for the Detroit show model - a 260bhp versionof Volvo"s 2.4-litre five-cylinder turbocharged unit. This gives a top speed of 150mph and a 0-60mph sprint time of six seconds.

The flagship version pictured will get an R badge and feature stiffened suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels and ventilated Brembo brakes with aluminium calipers.

Lower down the range, engines will be taken from the S40 and V50 line-up. The C30 will go on sale towards the end of 2006, with prices starting at around чЈ17,000.