Volvo, a marque obsessed with safety, introduced the Pedestrian Detection system through the S60 some years back. A ground breaking technology at its time, the system can apply full brakes automatically if the driver fails to detect a pedestrian or panics and fails to apply the brakes in time. And from next year, the 2013 models can be equipped with new systems like Road Sign Information, Active High Beam and Tunnel Detection as options.

Also new from Volvo will be the diesel powered 1.6-litre D2 engine with CO2 emissions of 114g/km to be offered on the S60, S80 and V60. This will benefit potential buyers with an S$15,000 rebate under the Carbon Emission Vehicle Scheme (CEVS) - the highest in its class.

The D2 produces 115bhp and 270Nm of torque. Interestingly when it is mated to an automatic gearbox, it returns the same fuel consumption and CO2 levels as the manual version at: 4.3L/100 km and 114g/km.

Besides the new CEVS friendly diesel engines, the S60 can also be equipped with tech novelties that aids the driver. The Road Sign Information system can display any road signs the vehicle detects in the instrument cluster. The Tunnel Detection automatically turns on the headlight when the car enters a tunnel while the new Active High Beam technology automatically switches between high and low beams at the right moment given the road conditions.