It's big, it's brash, it's brauny and, for want of a better word, it's just brilliant.

You see, Volvo has dropped in a 4.4-litre, eight-cylinder Yamaha engine.

This is the equivalent of a two fingered salute to the eco-warrior,
and an oasis of hope to the motoring purist.

I so wish you could hear the noise this car makes. No matter
what I write here, one listen to the roar of this angry powerplant
would have you raiding your kids' savings accounts in a bid to
stump up the £45k asking price.

Bear in mind this car is the size of Wales when you digest its 6.9second dash to 62mph.

Here's a little story for you.

Once upon a time I was sat at a set of traffic lights in my XC-90,
waiting for them to turn green.

A baseball-hatted youth pulled up alongside me in his sparkling
Honda Civic Type-R.

A firmly planted right foot initiated the 311bhp lunge forwards which, when coupled with the all-wheel-drive and Volvo's geartronic automatic 'box, left the hot hatch in its wake – and it sounded better.

Conversely, having proved my point, I eased off and the thing settled into a hushed waft along the bypass. Seriously, you can't hear the engine at low revs.

While I'm in the story-telling mood, this Swedish bruiser is something of a tale of two SUVs.

Yes, it is a V8 so called 'gas guzzler' but Volvo has always done its bit for the Kyoto agreement.

With no less than four catalytic converters and intelligent fuel mixing at start-up, the XC-90 is a heavyweight contender in the battle to punch a hole in the ozone layer – but it's wearing pillows for gloves.

On the inside the XC-90 is bigger than my digs I had as a student.
And with sumptuous leather, splashes of chrome, aluminium and wood – it's more like a bespoke des res flat than my bedsit.

Then there's the aqua blue dials which wouldn't look out of place
on James Bond's wrist.

Even the SatNav makes you smile. A neat button tucked away on the steering wheel brings a screen out of the dash – a nifty
party trick indeed.

Although, not as nifty as the security sensor which can detect the heartbeat of an intruder inside the cabin – that's another one for
007.

In fact, with the amount gadgetry on show here, from active bi-xenon headlights to distance responsive cruise control, you'd think Q had been at play from the start.

And like Ian Fleming's eponymous hero, the Volvo is pretty damn handsome. It is unmistakably a Volvo. Subtle curves and lines, coupled
with the need for real function are the order of the day.

This seven-seater knows it has a job to do in the real world – it is
a working dog in a Diamante collar and I loved it.

Volvo has really gone gunning for the big boys with their first foray into this high-powered executive sector, and if you listen carefully over at Range Rover, Mercedes and BMW, it's squeaky
bum time.

Take a look at Volvo's S80 D5.