Although Volvo has only recently revealed the details of its planned C30 small coupe, the company has been distilling the project since 1998, when it began the larger S40/V50 programme.
And the final decision to produce it in 2-door/4-seat format was on the basis that European customers wanted that.
The car's exterior designer, Simon Lamarr, said the compact premium segment is larger and 'better understood' in Europe than in the US.
The upcoming car has design cues from the P1800 of the '70s, the car made famous in the TV series of 'The Saint'.
The C30 goes on sale in Europe this autumn.
Meanwhile, following on from the success of the XC90, Volvo's first SUV, the company is well on the way to producing a smaller version, the XC50.
Brian Byrne.
