Volvo plans a baby SUV - Is it XC30?

If there is one international automobile brand whose presence in India has yet to leave a mark on the Indian psyche that has to be Volvo. The company that claims to make the safest cars in the world was always known for its commercial vehicles rather than cars.

The Swedish major has almost all the range of products – right from sedans to SUVs – but none have set the sales charts on fire like the German counterparts.

All that may be about to change as Volvo plans an entry-level SUV to hit showrooms by 2013. Called the XC30, it will be 280mm shorter than the big brother - XC60.

The new baby is aimed to take the German rivals X1, Q3 and GLC head on. What makes the proposition more interesting is the fact that BMW has garnered immense success with their X1 in India.

So clearly the XC30 is destined for India. But to take the X1 head on Volvo needs the SUV to be cost competitive as is the big brother XC60 in its class. So will Volvo develop 2 models - one for the European and American market and one for the BRIC nations?

Source - autocar.co.uk