While registering the C40 and C60 nameplates with the US Patent & Trademark Office will hopefully lead to some very good-looking Volvo Coupes in the future, a new generation C30 hatchback wouldn’t hurt either.

The C30 was discontinued back in 2013, yet it’s still a reasonably interesting car to look at, as it was at the 2006 Paris Motor Show when it made its first official appearance. Its unique rear styling and frameless rear hatch design helped it stand out when compared to pretty much any direct rival.

Since Volvo brought out the V40 a couple of years ago, people realized that the Swedish manufacturer wanted to have a more practical model in the premium compact segment, instead of something that was perhaps more of a niche thing. Of course, uniquely-styled cars have kind of taken off these past few years in terms of popularity and bringing back the C30 in one form or another might actually be a good idea, especially considering the steps Volvo has taken in terms of interior build quality, on-board tech and exterior design.

Take this rendering for example – it’s instantly recognizable as a Volvo C30, which is great because it was generally a well-liked car. The rear end seems to feature a pair of really big taillights (a lot bigger than on the original car), while the front end is borrowed from the all-new S90 saloon.

True, it’s not very likely to happen – but, as the V40 is offered in a five-door configuration only, it would give Volvo the chance to compete against the 3-door BMW 1-Series and Audi A3.

Rendering courtesy of X-Tomi

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