Volvo shows S60 in the metal for the first time

Volvo is showing its next-generation mid-sized S60 at the Geneva Motor Show; previously, only pictures of the new car have been released. The company describes the S60, with its flowing roof-line, as a four-door coupé rather than a saloon.

This car is a replacement for the original S60, launched in 2000, which attracted a certain amount of attention at the beginning of its life but which has led a very quiet existence for the last few years. Since the first S80 was introduced in the late Nineties, Volvo designs have relied heavily on a strong shoulder line, borrowed from the old 140/160 and 240/260 models, to help them stand out from the crowd. The shoulder is still there, but it's less distinct than before and a bit curvier.

The more expensive six-cylinder and five-cylinder versions will go on sale at first, but will be joined later by cars with smaller four-cylinder engines, including the eco-oriented DRIVe model, which has a 1.6 litre diesel. While Volvo goes on about its safety record less than it used to, the new car is available with the company's latest very impressive accident-prevention systems such as Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake and City Safety which operate the brakes if a driver doesn't react to hazards in a timely fashion. Volvo hopes to sell about 90,000 of the Belgian-built S60 each year.