Volvo S80: First Look

Motoring Channel Staff - 1/Feb/2006

Between concept cars and the odd automotive innovation, Volvo hasn't had much to crow about lately. However, with the introduction of the company's next generation S80 - the flagship luxury saloon - it hopes to generate a new level of buzz for the brand.

Traditionally speaking, Volvo's are seen as a safe purchase by many buyers, offering little in the way of visual style or dynamic driving characteristics. Such views began to materialise in the '80s, and though the automaker is now a thoroughly modern operation with some very capable models, the Volvo brand is still regularly associated with slow, meandering vehicles best suited to maturing buyers.

With a powerful new 8-cylinder engine giving the car a more assertive personality, plus advanced technologies such as radar-based cruise control, a PCC remote control unit and a collision warning system, Volvo will officially unveil its new pride and joy at the Geneva Auto Salon (also called the Geneva Motor Show) on 28 February 2006, with European sales to commence in June 2006. No word on a local release date yet.

"The all new S80 is entering an immensely tough sector where the competition is razor-sharp and the customers have very high expectations. We are now challenging the best in the segment with a very special car. It radiates what we call ‘Scandinavian Luxury’, clean and elegant lines and intelligent functionality where every single detail has been designed with the user's well-being in mind," said Fredrik Arp, President and CEO of Volvo Cars.

Three engine types will be offered with the new S80, including the marque's impressively compact 4.4-litre V8 engine. The new 8-cylinder engine gives the S80 the wherewithal to compete with the big V8-engined cruisers from Germany, such as the 7-Series from BMW and A8 from Audi. Volvo says the second-generation S80 is the first sedan model to become available with it's transversely fitted V8 with a power output of 235kW (315hp) and 440Nm of torque. With no less than four catalytic converters and advanced electronics, Volvo says that its V8 engine, which was first introduced in the Volvo XC90, is one of the cleanest V8s on the market.

In addition to the new 235kW V8 motor, the all-new S80 also showcases the introduction of an entirely new naturally aspirated 6-cylinder engine, a unit so compact that it is about the same size as Volvo's 5-cylinder engines. The company explains that the 3.2-litre unit can be mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission since the camshaft drive mechanism and the ancillaries have been relocated and partially integrated into the engine block itself.

The new inline six has a displacement of 3.2-litres and it produces 175kW of power (238hp) and 320Nm of torque, and there's also a diesel model in the range, finalising the trio of engine options. The 5-cylinder 2.5-litre turbo diesel, developed in-house by Volvo, outputs 138kW of power (185hp) and 400Nm of torque.

The Scandinavian marque will also provide V8-powered S80 models with the option of an AWD transmission, improving safety significantly in poor weather. The company reckons that the all-new S80 could also come with the active Four-C chassis, which automatically adjusts chassis settings to better suit the current driving conditions, while DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) is fitted as standard on all variants.

The safety features of the more dynamic-looking S80 also include adaptive cruise control (ACC) with collision warning (CW) and brake support (the S80 is the first Volvo model to get the adaptive cruise control feature).

The ACC automatically maintains a selected distance to the vehicle in front by using radar system to gauge the distance between vehicles, andwhen not being used and the gap to the vehicle in front closes so fast that a collision is likely, the system alerts the driver by activating a buzzer and warning lights. At the same time, the braking system is prepared for the situation to make braking more effective.

Bi-Xenon headlights are part of the S80's safety package, able to turn the beams of light in the direction of the bending road to provide the best possible visibility after the sun sets.

For entertainment purposes, the all-new Volvo S80 can of course be ordered with Volvo's Premium Sound audio system. This includes a digital ICE power amplifier from Alpine, Dolby Pro Logic II Surround and loudspeakers from Dynaudio of Denmark, all of which interact to create an audio experience of the highest quality.

Interestingly, Volvo will include a world first in the new S80, what it calls the advanced PCC (Personal Car Communicator) remote control unit. The PCC features a number of intelligent functions that the marque isn't quite ready to divulge to the media, but it has let slip that even before the driver gets to the car, he or she can check the security level to see if the car is locked or whether the alarm has been activated. There's even a heartbeat sensor inside the car that can warn the approaching owner if someone or something with a heartbeat is hiding inside the car.

In addition to the new technologies, more powerful engines and smooth styling, Volvo hopes to attract buyers with what it calls 'Scandinavian Luxury'. The company believes that its S80 radiates a different, more human prestige by combining aesthetics and technology in an inviting and intelligent way when compared to other prestige players in the market.

Scandinavian Luxury differs from traditional luxury, it says, which bases its appeal on being elitist, expensive and excluding.

In the 2006 Volvo S80, this is expressed through simple-yet-elegant design, and technology that gives the user practical benefit or sheer enjoyment in every single detail – and a sense of responsibility in the form of world-class safety and environmental care.

"The new S80 is about evolutionary design. All the shapes and materials represent a continuous development of our design language. On the outside we have given the S80 a more compact, youthful and dynamic stance. Inside we have created an even more inviting atmosphere with refined materials and colours that blend smoothly with smart, user-friendly technology," explains Volvo Cars’ design director Steve Mattin.

"We are convinced that the all new Volvo S80 will be a very strong contender that will win over many new customers. We expect 70 percent of the average volume of 50,000 cars a year to be purchased by customers who do not drive a Volvo today. The main markets are the USA, Germany, Spain, Sweden and China," concluded Volvo CEO, Fredrik Arp.