Volvo's new S60 will be able to brake if it detects pedestrians in the road when it goes on sale next summer.
The all-new saloon will be given its first public viewing at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March before production begins early next summer, but Volvo has confirmed the car will feature the latest safety technology.
Available as an option, Pedestrian Detection will be able to sense whether people are in the road in front of the car, and begin to apply the brakes if the driver doesn't react in time.
No further details have been confirmed about the car, but it is likely to be available with four-cylinder and five-cylinder diesel engines as well as turbo-charged petrol engines.
Expect to see a 160bhp 2.0-litre diesel and the 205bhp five-cylinder D5. It is also expected to offer low-emission DRIVe versions using a 1.6-litre diesel, with CO2 emissions below 120g/km.
Petrol engines will include a new Ford turbocharged direct injection 1.6-litre, which will offer high power and low emission versions.
Full details of the new S60's specification will be revealed early in 2010.