What's the first thing most people think of when you say "Volvo"? Safety, of course, and sedans and station wagons whose exteriors look as if they were designed with only a straight edge. The perception that Volvos are style-challenged is a holdover from the company's golden years in the United States, before Ford bought the company in 1999. (Okay, all the clichés about Volvo used in reviews are now out of the way.)

The current S60 was definitely not designed with just a straight edge. To my eye, this vehicle is downright sexy. And the new R-Design is now the top model in Volvo's mid-sized S60 series. The S60 powered the Swedish automaker to a 29-percent increase in year-over-year sales in 2011, outpacing the industry and its most direct competitors.

Speaking of competitors, Volvo representatives say the R-Design will compete directly against cars such as the all-wheel-drive versions of the Audi A4, the BMW 335, and the Infiniti G37. They argue it offers more content for less money, with a base price of $42,500.

It's no secret I'm a fan of the standard-edition S60, having driven the car in the Pacific Northwest last year. The R-Design version amps up the external visuals with a few noteworthy changes. These include a more dramatic front fascia, a now-standard spoiler at the rear, a more highly styled rear defuser with larger exhaust outlets, and a set of distinctive-looking 18-inch wheels.

Volvo offers the R-Design in just four colors: Metallic Black, Metallic