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The S60 T5 is not your father’s Volvo.

For decades, in fact for two millennia, Volvo has produced vehicles that cater to blue hairs desiring to hide themselves in machines that offer the same safety as a tank yet can be parallel parked.

But Volvo has preached from the book of safety for so long that any one younger than retirement age has grown weary of the message, especially now that just about any vehicle is relatively safe and just about any vehicle not bearing the Volvo name is relatively good looking as well.

The scenario over the years was familiar. Go to the store and pick up a package of adult diapers, a pair of support hose, a pack of that fizzy stuff to soak your teeth in at night, and, on the way home, stop and get another Volvo ’cause this one is 20 years old.

But then came the S60 sedan for the 2001 model year, an attempt to lure the grandchildren of Volvo buyers into the showroom, because without youth, any automaker will run out of customers.

With the S60, Volvo is boasting high performance in an aggressive sedan that looks good without giving up any of the safety for which the automaker had become known. The S60 makes having a Volvo more palatable than owning a box on wheels that puttered to bingo on Sundays.

The Swedish automaker that’s now a member of the Ford Motor Co. family just concluded a survey on the first batch of shoppers for its new 2001 S60 and found not only that 80 percent of the buyers had never set foot in a Volvo store before, that same 80 percent entered the store with a single purpose, to see the S60, the only vehicle in the Volvo stable they know and care about.

We tested the S60 T5, the T5 designation meaning it’s a turbocharged 5-cylinder teamed with a 5-speed manual as standard while an automatic is a $1,200 option. We’d strongly consider ponying up for the automatic, considering that while the 2.3-liter, 247-horsepower, dual-overhead cam 5-cylinder is lively, the 5-speed manual is more than a tad notchy and falls short of complementing the power.

Volvo expects only about 5 to 10 percent will opt for the manual, but went ahead and equipped its press fleet vehicle with the 5-speed because the buff books would refuse to drive it without it.

And, yes, there is a slight turbo lag between the time you press the pedal and the horses start to gallop, common with just about any turbocharged car. Fuel economy is a respectable 21 m.p.g. city/28 m.p.g. highway.

So what you have is a high-performance Volvo, but the reason people are wandering into showrooms, the automaker says, is that what you have is a high-performance Volvo that boasts all the traditional safety features and looks good.

Rounded lines replace straight edges, and the most notable feature comes into view when following and spotting the novel cascading taillamps flowing down from a pinched deck lid.

The overall look is that of a low-slung two-door coupe, in a four-door sedan package.

The S60 is built on a 2-inch longer wheelbase, but is almost 6 inches shorter than the old S70 it replaces.

The S60 is positioned in the lineup between the S40 and the S80.

In two years another addition to the Volvo lineup will be a vehicle now making the auto-show circuit in the guise of a concept called the ACC, or Adventure Concept Car.

While looking good and acting good, the S60 still packs the safety features, including a stability and traction-control system to monitor wheel spin and apply the brakes to offending wheel or wheels to reduce the risk of losing traction; dual-stage (deployment speed based on impact speed) front and side air bags plus an inflatable side curtain that drops from the roof for head protection; whiplash protection driver/passenger seat to cushion the head in a rear impact; and daytime running lamps. Laminated side glass to prevent smash-and-grabbers from gaining entry whi you idle at the light is available as part of the $550 touring package that includes memory mirrors.

Other noteworthy features include sporty and stylish aluminum trim around the shift lever, longer seat cushion bottoms for long-distance thigh support, a rear-seat release latch in the trunk and a split rear seat that folds flat so you can carry long packages or skis in the cabin.

But while catering to packages or skis, keep in mind the S60 is a compact positioned between the S40 and S80 sedans, and the compact dimensions are most noticeable in the rear seat, where legroom is tight and knee room even tighter.

Base price of the S60 T5 tested is $31,800.

Standard equipment includes four-wheel power disc brakes with anti-lock; all-season, 17-inch Pirelli radials; eight-way power driver/passenger seats with memory and lumbar support; dual-zone electronic climate control; tilt and telescoping steering wheel, split folding rear seats with center armrest cupholders; remote keyless entry with panic alarm; power windows with auto down for driver; heated power outside mirrors; dust and pollen filters; floor mats; vanity mirrors; reading lamps; trip computer; leather-wrapped gearshift lever and steering wheel; AM/FM stereo with in-dash CD player and cassette; and cruise control.

Options included leather seats for $1,300, a cold-weather package with heated seats and wipers for $450 and power sunroof for a hefty $1,200.