And then there were...
And then there were three! Budget Malaysian brand Perodua has launched its third model range, the Myvi.
Exclusive pictures in...
Exclusive pictures in this week"s mag are based on information from within the company, and provide the first glimpse of a car that will aim to tempt image-conscious buyers away from established favourites, such as Audi"s A3 and the Volkswagen Golf. As Volvo"s first small hatchback since the conservative 440 was dropped back in 1997, the V30 would be joined by a sporty three-door variant, which is expected to be called the S30.
The design shown in the mag is far more muscular than the S40 saloon, and takes its inspiration from the Safety Concept Car unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in 2001. There"s also a passing resemblance to the 480 ES coup탩. Volvo hinted at the possibility of a hatchback more recently with a range of concept models displayed at last year"s New York exhibition. As with its S40 stablemate, the V30 will be based on the Ford C1 platform, which underpins the next-generation Focus. That means owners will reap the benefits of a capable chassis, which could be set up to turn the all-new model into a performance-oriented driver"s car.
Volvo is expected to expand its R range of hot models with an S40 variant next year, so enthusiasts shouldn"t rule out the possibility of a hot hatch based on the V30 in the future.
While there have been no official details released about the compact duo, the maker is likely to unveil hatchback concepts at one of next year"s top motor shows. That means customers shouldn"t expect to see the new five-door Volvo before the end of 2006.