Volvo’s been taking a number of new directions lately, so with that in mind this sporty little dart shouldn’t come as a complete surprise. Besides, there’s a market for premium compact hatchbacks, isn’t there? I mean, BMW tried in the early 1990s, and that didn’t work. Mercedes took a shot too, with the 2001-05 C230 Sport, and that one bit the dust, too. Does Volvo think it can succeed where those worthies have failed?

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