I suppose it goes back to my childhood days when my father bought a Vauxhall with a six cylinder in-line engine, which was the smoothest car I'd ever ridden in. Before he became too ill for heavy work, he had been a mechanic both before and after the war. In fact he once told me how a Bugatti had been abandoned in the workshop by its owner and he had the chance to buy it for £1.50. But for a bloke who couldn't afford his first pedal cycle until he was in his 20s that was just too much. Besides, where would he keep it and how could he insure it? Although that opportunity was passed by, he never let slip a chance to let help him maintain our own family cars and it was thanks to him that my love of cars developed. It was he who explained to me about the delights of an in-line six and he was right, of course. Since the late 60s, there has been great emphasis on V6s, which save space but are not nearly so smooth. So when Volvo announced its new S80 saloon, and that there would be a brand new 3.2 litre in-line six as one of the engine choices, my selection of test car was predetermined. The diesels will probably sell better but this new engine, also destined for the Land Rover Freelander and possibly some Jaguars, was a chance too good to pass by. Volvo has designed and developed the engine itself and it's now being produced by the specialist Ford engine plant in Bridgend, South Wales. The big thing about it is that it's little, if that makes sense. One of the reasons V6s have become popular is that they are compact, especially if they need to be fitted transversely. But Volvo has found a way to make the in-line engine compact enough to fit across the car, too, and so everyone who buys one will enjoy the benefits. On the test car, it came coupled to a six speed Geartronic automatic gearbox that allows manual changes, a feature I never use. The gearbox always knows better than I do what ratio it should be in. The box is very smooth, as we all have a right to expect these days, and makes the perfect partner for the six cylinder engine, which drives the front wheels. Front wheel drive, of course, is directly opposite to what's delivered by BMW, one of the S80's main rivals. Volvo says front wheel drive is safer and more predictable, BMW says rear wheel drive gives greater enjoyment. You pays your money and makes you choice. I'm comfortable with either configuration, although with rear wheel drive you have to remember not to give the car too much welly on a wet road or the back end will slide out. What's important on the Volvo is that the car has been developed and tuned on Britain's roads so the driving experience here will be good. Volvo expects to sell around 50,000 S80s a year, mostly in the States, which is why there's a need for a good petrol engine. You can also have a 4.4 litre V8, too. The UK is one of the car's most important markets, coming fourth after the US, China, and Sweden, and Volvo expects to sell around 5,000 here in a full year. That's not bad when the competition is so stiff and the market for luxury cars is shrinking. The £30,995 SE test car showed this model has plenty of appeal. The urban consumption of 22 mpg might not appeal but it rises to 26 mpg on longer journeys. Performance is generous, too, and safety levels impeccable. Maurice Hardy Annette's View The Volvo S80 may be all new but you would have to be an anorak to spot the differences between this and the old car. The length is the same, but the car is wider and taller with a lengthened wheelbase, all intended to increase interior space. Evolutionary Volvos are nothing new, of course. The 740 Series cars from the early 80s had a style that's still evident in the current V70 and before that the 140 cars became the 240 series. The increase in dimensions for the S80 has done the trick, particularly in the rear seats where there's now appreciably more space, enough to fit in a fridge in the Executive models. Few of us will reach those rarefied levels, however, so the SE test car is probably more representative of what most buyers will aspire to. It certainly makes a refreshing change from its major German rivals, which have come to dominate this market sector. It's probably Audi which competes most directly with the Volvo, sharing as it does the standard front wheel drive layout and option of four wheel drive. The Volvo represents the route to be taken by drivers who want to be truly different and its smartened, coupe-influenced styling still feels fresh and modern, too. Car: Volvo S80 3.2 SE Geartronic Does it fit your ego?... 0-62 mph: 7.9 secs Top speed: 149 mph Bhp: 236 @ 6200 rpm Torque: 236 lb ft @ 3200 rpm ...and your wallet?... Price: £30,995 Urban: 19.2 mpg Extra urban: 40.4 mpg Combined: 28.8 mpg CO2 emissions: 234 g/km Insurance Group: 18 Best bits: superb engine; smooth gearbox; driving experience.