What's this then?

This is the new Volvo V60, which has been launched in Stockholm.

Big, ritzy launch was it?

Not really. Volvo actually showed the car, for the first time, parked on the driveway of a family home, a move that's designed to underline its family-friendliness and practicality.

Is it practical? It looks pretty slinky.

It seems to be, yeah. In fact, at 529-litres, its boot is bigger than that of a BMW 3 Series Touring or Audi A4 Avant, or even than Volvo's own V90 estate. The V60 shares its chassis, the SPA platform, with the V90 and also with, obviously, the XC60 SUV. That means it will also be staggeringly safe, and it borrows a lot of the XC60's safety tech, including autonomous emergency braking, steering that swerves you away from a collision, and an updated version of the Volvo's Pilot Assist semi-autonomous motorway guidance system that Volvo says is now better at dealing with corners.

How about engines?

Under the bonnet you'll find the existing T5 and T6 petrol units, as well as carry-over D3 and D4 diesel, but there's a new plug-in hybrid unit - the T6 version, which has 340hp. The 400hp T8 plug-in will also be available.

"The family estate driver is an important customer for our business and has been for generations," said Hakan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Cars. "The new V60 honours that tradition, but also takes it much further."

"The V60 really is the central point of the Volvo brand," said Robin Page, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Cars. "It's refined, has a beautiful proportion and stance, yet delivers on practicality and versatility."

So where's the S60 saloon to go with the estate?

Don't worry, it's coming. Volvo has decided to unveil the V60 first, but the four door will be shown off soon. Both cars will go on sale towards the end of the year.