WHEN Roger Moore had women going weak at the knees in the television series the Saint in the 1960s and '70s his suave, racy image rubbed off on to the car he drove.
The Volvo 1800 P was seen as a trendy, sporting coupe designed to put some excitement into the life of the driver.
And in many ways the design of the new Volvo C30 harks back to that car, and is completely at odds with the image that Volvo normally portrays.
The new C30 is the smallest car in the Volvo stable and will be welcomed by enthusiasts of the Swedish car maker who love the brand but don't need a large family car.
This modern day sporting coupe wears the traditional Volvo grille, but in many ways that is where any resemblance to anything else the company makes stops.
The low front, muscular shoulders, tapering side windows and frameless glass hatchback all help to make this a car which should appeal to young and old alike - as well as to both sexes.
Volvo has taken the conscious decision to make this compact car a four rather than a five seater, taking the view that it's better to create two full sized seats in the rear rather than than three narrow ones.
Leg room in the rear is sensible for a car of this size and despite only having two doors access is easy thanks to the size of them and the ease of sliding the front passenger seat clear.
The 1.8-litre is likely to be one of the best sellers and despite being one of the smaller engines in the range is non the less impressive.
It's quiet, pulls well and is superbly flexible when it comes to driving in towns and cities.
That flexibility means you get into fifth gear much quicker than with most comparable cars and therefore get the benefit of better fuel consumption.
And while it's not the quickest model in the range it certainly has enough zip to satisfy most drivers buying a car of this engine size.
Luggage, however, is not the C30's strong point. Space beneath the glass hatch is limited and while it would be okay for a couple it could present problems for a family heading off on holiday.
The most disappointing thing about what, overall, is a very appealing product, is the cheap looking plastic luggage cover. This is completely un-Volvo like and as well being awkward to use reminded me of something off an early vehicle from an emerging market in the Far East.
This car had heated leather seats, an option, but a very acceptable one for this time of year.
The SE comes with a host of standard equipment, including one touch electric windows, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, 12 volt accessory sockets for front and rear seat travellers and an on-board computer.
And like on most Volvos the owner can programme in personal requirements, such as whether he or she wants the doors to lock automatically as the car moves off.
Build quality is equally as good as with the traditional large Volvos and the doors all close with the gentlest of pushes.
The steering is nicely weighted and the five speed box is slick and easy in use, making the C30 a very easy car to live with and a highly manoeuvrable one when it comes to parking.
It may be the baby of the Volvo stable but the C30 is a refreshing addition and will undoubtedly sell well. I just hope someone takes another look at that luggage cover.
FAST FACTS
Volvo C30 1.8 SE
Price: £17,495
Mechanical: 125bhp, 1,798cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 124mph
0-62mph: 10.2 secs
Combined mpg: 38.7
Insurance group: 9
CO2 emissions: 174g/km
BiK rating: 21%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 8yrs anti-rust