Let’s face it: without Volvo, PAG would be, well, dour – though Aston Martin has recently been on a roll and Jaguar has high hopes for its hot XK coupe and convertible. In the here and now, however, Volvo has arguably done more to boost the fortunes of Ford’s luxury hopes than any of the other nameplates. You could even say that Volvo technology has had a hand in making some very, um, critical Ford products successful. Given this, it’s safe to assume that Volvo’s own C30 concept will be a smash hit, and from a first look in Detroit, the style of the entry-lux hatchback may have people lining up outside dealerships with lattes in hand.

Reminiscent of the Volvo P1800 ES, this very well could be one of the first modern luxury hatches to break through the American luxury bias against hatches. And while much of that depends on price and performance, the Volvo C30 has the pedigree and the track record to make it happen, not only with its own fans, but with all shoppers in the entry-lux segment.