Fans of the Swedish car maker Volvo will likely be excited about plans to introduce a new small hatchback for the 2012 model year. Volvo plans to roll out this five door “Golf-style” car to compete in a segment that’s currently getting a lot of attention from customers. The Volvo C30 5 door hatch model will be based on the C30 and S40 sedans that are already on the market, which some characterize as having a “Ford Focus type” design. The new move by Volvo seems like a definite response to the popularity of the Focus and similar cars on today’s market. But that’s not all the auto maker is doing in order to stay competitive in a changing market environment: along with these kinds of smaller cars, Volvo seems to be preparing for the wave of hybrids and plug-ins that are due to flood the American roadway when gas prices happen to spike again. An Edmunds Inside Line article from late last year shows Volvo execs considering hybrid and EV designs and talking about how changing consumer sentiment is paving the way for greener, leaner cars in many different ways. It seems that the manufacturer is re-assessing how Volvo has based its design on direct competition with Volkswagen and other brands, and wants to return to “Scandinavian style and engineering.” This rather vague description might not really provide a lot of information on how Volvo wants their cars to look, but in any case, Volvo has placed its bet on a market that seems dominated by the need for fuel-efficient, reasonable sized cars.

As for the new C30, this new option should increase the appeal of Volvo’s sedan line. The design for this car has been described by Volvo top brass as “simple yet elegant” and ever since the news came out last October, many customers have been looking for more on this new trim. In understanding the “value for cost” that the new C30 will provide, shoppers should anticipate some of the pricing currently forecasted for 2012 C30 models. Cars.com provides a starting MSRP of $24,700 for the base C30 T5 2 door hatchback, with the top T5R model selling for $31,500. Current deals from Volvo dealerships show interest rates starting at .9% for some models, but for a true look at financing for one of these new cars, check back when the updated C30 hits lots near you.