Press day at the Geneva Motor Show was a crucial one for Swedish car maker Volvo, as its hotly anticipated new compact car was unveiled to the media.

Badged V40, this latest car to come out of Sweden fills an important gap in Volvo's line-up.

Promising the now expected high quality cabin ambience and sensible ergonomics, the V40 also boasts Volvo's familiar range of passive and active safety measures plus a surprise addition of a pedestrian airbag, alongside an engine line-up that offers a mix of frugal and sporty units.

Volvo hasn't abandoned its green philosophy though, as good economy and low emissions remain a theme throughout the range thanks in part to the standard inclusion of stop-start across the range of petrol and diesel motors.

Positioned to compete against popular compact hatches such as BMW's 1 Series and Audi's A3, the V40 is expected to hit the UK in the summer.