In what is becoming an industry-wide stampede, one of Volvo's more popular sedans is about to become more coupe-like -- bowing to the Swedish brand's drive to become sportier.

Volvo will introduce a concept car at the 2009 North American International Auto Show next month that hints at the next generation S60 sedan due in 2010.

The next S60 will ride on the same platform as the new Volvo XC60 crossover. It will be smaller as well, to better distance it from the S80. Volvo says it will also be engineered and equipped to better compete with the Mercedes-Benz C-class, Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series.

More importantly, it will resemble a coupe with four doors, a styling trend that is taking over the industry, most noticeably from European design studios.

Automakers have tweaked the traditional sedan -- even the crossover and wagon -- in recent years to appeal to younger buyers looking for a sportier ride without losing the benefits of four doors and a comfortable back seat. Examples include the Mercedes-Benz CLS, VW Passat CC, BMW X6 and the forthcoming Porsche Panamera.

"The driving properties are better than in any previous Volvo," says Stephen Odell, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars. "The car's technology will also help you to be a better and safer driver."

TheS60, inspired by the flagship S80 sedan, debuted in 2001 and was refreshed in 2005.

The design changes include an enlarged iron mark in Volvo's trademark trapezoidal grille and an overall exterior inspired by race tracks. The concept car's headlamps feature the image of two miniature Viking longboats sailing side by side, one for main beam and one for dipped beam.

In the cabin, the middle of the sedan is anchored by a floating center stack made out of handmade, solid Orrefors crystal. The S60's speedometer has been designed to resemble a three-dimensional glass spiral. The low numbers appear closest to the eye and the figures appear to be increasingly distant as you accelerate. Volvo designers wanted the speedometer to provide a visual reminder of the car's forward motion.

In another preview, the Volvo S60 concept is powered by a four-cylinder, 1.6-liter engine with gasoline turbocharged direct injection -- a feature that reduces carbon dioxide emissions. It produces 180 horsepower. Volvo's first production car with GTDi technology will be introduced during the second half of 2009. The S60 concept is also equipped with a new safety features. It can detect when a pedestrian steps into the vehicle's path, and the car's full braking power is automatically activated if the driver does not respond to the danger. The technology will be introduced on the next generation Volvo S60.

"Up until now, we have focused on helping the driver avoid collisions with other vehicles. Now we are taking a giant step forward with a system that also boosts safety for unprotected road-users," Thomas Broberg, safety expert at Volvo Cars, said in a statement. "New sensor technology also makes it possible to advance from 50 percent to full automatic braking power. To our knowledge, none of our competitors have made such progress in this area."

The technology is useful in the event of rear-end impacts with other vehicles. Studies indicate that half of all drivers who drive into another vehicle from behind do not brake prior to the collision. In most cases, Volvo thinks the new safety feature can reduce collision forces by as much as 75 percent.