Key facts:
Model tested: Volvo S60 T5 R-Design
On the road price: £29,625
Date tested: January 2011
Road tester: Andy Goodwin

The S60 coupe has been winning Volvo praise thanks to its good looks, comfort and enjoyable handling. Now Volvo has added its R-Design package to the range, and we've tested it.

The S60 is designed to appeal to the young and young-at-heart, and the addition of an R-Design S60 so soon after its launch is telling of this coupe's target audience.

This is the 'naughty' Volvo according to TV ads, so we can only imagine the R-Design has been really bad to get its more aggressive front and rear bumpers, black grille, twin chrome tailpipes and spidery 18-inch alloy wheels.

These sit more snugly in the wheelarches as a result of hunkered-down suspension, which is also firmer than standard. The chassis has been comprehensively honed to improve the precision of each wheel's movements.

Inside there's a three-spoke steering wheel, blue instrument dials, sports gear knob and bucket seats with increased side support to further hold occupants in place.

The whole R-Design package isn't just available on the hot petrol T5 and T6 models, but every S60 from the entry-level diesel up, and will even be an option on the green DRIVe-badged car.

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The standard S60 already has the sportiest suspension setup of any Volvo, so does making it even firmer ruin the car? In a word, no. Its firmer springs do allow some more road noise into the cabin, but it's generally comfortable enough for a sports coupe.

Handling is usefully direct, and there's a pleasing feeling of balance between the front and rear of the car, particularly in the AWD four-wheel drive range-topper, which finds plenty of grip in wet conditions.

It's not as involving as the lively rear-wheel drive BMW 3-Series coupe, but on a par with the front or four-wheel drive Audi A5.

The electronic stability programme has been tuned too, now braking an inside wheel to send more pulling power to the tyres with most grip and improve cornering ability.

We found the changes well considered, and with as many as 60 per cent of Volvo customers choosing the R-Design trim across its model range, that's a good thing.