I doubt that there is anyone in this country that when you mention the name Volvo does not automatically think of dependable, solid, safe vehicles that you would have no problems carrying all the family or those valuable antiques.

So it was disappointing to hear marketing people say that they are respectful of their past but that they need to move on from their heritage past. They suggest that Volvo has been entranced in the past with their older models still upper most in people’s minds.

I for one don’t have a problem with that. To me a Volvo has always been, will always be, a superb piece of engineering, after all one of their slogans is “Volvo for life.”

Volvo is determined to improve its image, and I worry that they are going to try and become obsessed with “yoof” – they suggest that they have already started this by product placement in certain films with the C30.

All I know is that the new C30 is a brilliant design that looks a million dollars and to me it sells irrespective of the youth market.

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Volvo has had their problems as we all know and now with potential Chinese suitors in the background they are hopeful that they can become a major player once again.

They certainly are looking forward, they want their dealers to be profitable, they want to increase their market share and they are confident that they can attract a younger audience and get away from their pipe and slipper image, which I personally still think is a big mistake.

The all-new Volvo S60 was debuted at the Geneva Motor Show earlier in 2010 and it received a warm response. The S60 launches probably in to the most competitive market places in the automotive world. Its competition if you talk premium class is A4, C-Class Mercedes, and BMW 3 Series, but if you include Mondeo, Insignia and Avensis you begin to see the very difficult market this new model is entering in to.

The overall shape of the S60 is a pleasing one; it has a coupe look and has sporty connotations. Volvo certainly has moved well away from previous kindergarten design square box and this has to be commended.

The new S60 is available from launch with a choice of two diesels and one petrol engine, which will include a highly uprated high performance three-litre petrol producing 304 bhp – but this will be an expensive option to run due to high Co 2 figures.

The best options should be the two diesels on offer, a 2.4-litre 205 bhp and a 2-litre 163 bhp both being wonderful five-cylinder configurations.

Dynamics

The S60 is a four-door, it has short overhangs front and rear which translate to excellent driving dynamics and when you add in to this equation the factor that the vehicle has been specifically designed to operate on UK roads which are accepted to be some of the worse in Europe, the handling is very, very good.

The interior has had a makeover and Volvo suggests that it is more in keeping with a driver-orientated style, I’m not sure what that means. I found it to be a comfortable cabin with everything clearly and easily accessible.

It is a full five-seater offering adequate space for all occupants and unusually in this age the S60 has not grown in comparison to its predecessor – in fact it is slightly smaller but Volvo have increased rear knee space by 30 mms which does make a huge difference for the rear passengers.

Volvo have angled the instruments and the control area towards the driver, they suggest that it creates a sensation of focus and control I prefer say it just makes it so much easier to read and to operate.

There is an absolute plethora of storage in the vehicle for driver and passengers and all sorts of cubbyholes for maps, drinks and you name it there is probably a space where you can actually store it.

The boot opening on previous models came in for some criticism due to its small aperture and Volvo have taken this on board and have made it 100 mms wider than in the previous vehicle and this does help when you have to load the luggage.

The driving dynamics of the S60 were of a pleasant comfortable companion, a vehicle that really didn’t surprise me in any particular way.

I was very impressed by the five-cylinder engine in my D5 derivative that I had on test. Tt came equipped with an automatic gearbox, which for me is motoring nirvana. The 2.4-litre five-cylinder engine develops 205 bhp, which is sufficient to give 0 – 60 in just over seven seconds and a top speed, where legal, of 146 mph.

The 44.8-mpg on the combined cycle is a bonus for a big car.

Probably one of the biggest features that the S60 has is City safety. This is standard on all the S60 range and is a device that sits just behind the rear view mirror and it is a combination of camera, radar and laser beams that detect people over 80 cms, probably a five-year old, in front of you.

So if you are distracted or not actually paying attention and travelling at up to 22mph the device will do an emergency stop and avoid a collision.

Volvo arranged an off-road test using dummies to prove the point. It was an impressive test. I asked the question if I was doing more than 22 mph what would happen and the response was the vehicle will stop very quickly and bring itself down to a speed that would injure the person as opposed to kill them.

This I feel is Volvo at their best, once again at the forefront of technology allied to safety what they do best, typical Volvo safety feature, taking them forward in to the next generation.

Pricing structures of the S60 will range from £23,295 to a top of £36,745.

Service intervals are at one year or 18,000 miles and Volvo come with a comprehensive three-year or 60,000 miles warranty.