Driving around the countryside with ample corners on offer in the hilly sections, there was no cause for complaint as regards the way the car behaved round bends. To my surprise, the steering was well weighted and quite sharp. I won’t call it point-and-shoot precision, but it surely is a vast improvement over the Volvos that I have driven in the past.
The engines on offer in the S60 are the T6 (3.0-litre petrol) and D5 (2.4-litre diesel). The T6 is for the enthusiastic soul. With 308 PS of peak power and 440 Nm of maximum torque, this turbocharged, six-cylinder engine is quick. The linear delivery of power and torque ensure a smooth drive. Mated with the T6 is a six-speed auto box with sequential manual shifting, but without paddle shifters. The S60 comes with an all-wheel drive configuration that aids its handling and road grip to an appreciable extent.
For a cleaner fuel option, the D5 is on offer, which is much slower than the T6. However, being diesel, the torque output is almost similar to that of T6 at 420 Nm. The immense amount of torque available on tap ensures a good run round the city. However, after having driven the T6-powered S60, there was a little disappointment on account of its slightly sluggish performance.
Safety is synonymous with Volvo and there are a couple of new technologies incorporated into the S60 that will set a new benchmark in this 
department. Pedestrian detection along with full auto brakes and Queue assist are the ones that deserve special mention and have been discussed in a box elsewhere in this article.
Looking at the Volvo as a complete package, the S60 is stylish, spacious, technologically advanced, powerful and equipped with great safety features. The car will hit the Indian market before March 2011. A good price tag is probably the only important thing for Volvo to beat their competition now, since their offering has got all the rest!
Safety first
Volvo have always taken pride in their safety technology, the latest one in the S60 and V60 being the Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Pedestrian Safety. This technology makes use of a radar placed near the front grille and a camera positioned near the rear-view mirror. The radar detects 
obstructions in the car’s path and the camera identifies if it is human. Once that has been detected, the car gives a warning in the form of a flashing red light near the instrument console and a beep. If the driver still does not slow down, the car’s Full Auto Brake brings the car to standstill if the speed is below 35 km/h. Above that speed, the car manages to slow itself down as much as possible to reduce the impact on the pedestrian.
CAPTIONS:
Clean, up-to-date and techy interiors welcome you into the new and sporty S60
The 3.0-litre T6 petrol engine is for the enthusiast soul
