2004 Volvo S60 R

Volvo continues thinking outside the box while taking safety to the next level.

The Swedish automotive company has been selling cars in the United States since the mid 1950s, when its mission statement emphasized durable means of transportation, usually in the guise of a boxy-looking wagon. More important to the company's long-term marketing strategy is a strong tie to first-in-the-industry safety innovations. Volvo was one of the first automakers to incorporate safety belts as standard equipment in 1959. Nine years later that practice became law across the industry.

Today, Volvo is one member of Ford Motor Co.' s Premier Auto Group (PAG), which also includes Land Rover, Aston Martin and Jaguar. Currently, Volvo holds about 1 percent of market sales in the United States. The relationship with Ford afforded Volvo the opportunity to build and bring new products to market quicker then it ever could on its own, thanks to a much needed influx of capital. Ford, in turn, benefited by gaining access to Volvo's "how to do it right" safety technology. Volvo roughly translated into English means "I Roll."

One of those new products arriving in dealers in May is the 2004 S60 R, a fun-to-drive sports sedan that found its way to the Daily Herald for a week-long test drive. A sporty-styled four-door sedan is a far cry from the boxy wagons Volvo pedaled in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The all-wheel drive S60 R is part of Volvo's P2 automotive platform also utilized on the S80 sedan (introduced in 1999) and the well-respected XC90 sport utility vehicle. Platform sharing allows manufacturers to spread the cost of many different-looking vehicles over one chassis structure. The XC90 earnedtheNorth American Truck of the Year distinction at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. This particular honor is judged by 50 journalists and carries a bit more weight than similar awards presented by automotive magazines.

The S60 R with its 45-degree rear window, short trunk lid, large taillights and long hood create a sharp-looking exterior. Seventeen-inch five-spoke alloy wheels come standard while 18-inch varieties are optional. Narrow, band-style headlight housing wraps around to side fenders, and include diminutive wipers to help keep the surface dry.

Inside, the instrument panel incorporates a sporty look with circular, blue analog gauges with white lettering. Like many other sporty compact-sized vehicles, the back seat is best left to the pre-teen set due to limited leg room. The back side of the front bucket seats are cleverly "scooped in," creating a little more leg room, but doesn't solve the overall shortfall of space. Comfortable and supportive front bucket seats don't have the "mushy" feel other competitors sometimes incorporate. The central dashboard's ventilation controls and stereo also took a while to get acclimated with.

But sports sedans are built for fun and this is where the S60 R shines. The six-speed manual transmission delivered peppy performance with a rather heavy foot clutch; but does propel the car from zero to 60 miles per hour in 5.4 seconds thanks to the transversely-mounted 2.5-liter five cylinder engine cranking out 300 horsepower. Volvo recommends premium fuel for this higher charging turbocharged (thus the "R" designation) powertrain which rates as Volvo's most potent engine. Optional is a five-speed geartronic automatic transmission that also allows driver input (when desired)tomanually shift gears without a clutch.

The S60 R tackles aggressive cornering with the same confidence and minimal body sway as a recently tested Volvo XC 90, both benefiting from the high-performance P2 Platform.

Of course, the S60 R comes with technologies to keep occupants safe including whiplash protection, side air bags, side impact protection and stability/traction control.

Pricing starts at $36,825 while the destination charge adds another $685 to the bottom line. Competitors in this sport sedan segment include the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4 2.8.

As Volvo adds new products, it's utilizing alphabetical prefixes to distinguish models. For example, "S" in the car title represents sedans; "C" denotes coupes and convertibles; "V" means a wagon and XC will get drivers behind the wheel of an SUV-like vehicle.

Volvo will increase its presence in the Chicago suburbs with a regional office opening this month in Downers Grove, new home to Matt Malfitano, Midwestern Regional Vice President for Volvo and a dozen other employees. This same office serves as a Midwest home for other PAG group members from Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin as well as other representatives from the Ford Motor Co.