Of course much of the S80's secure road manners can be attributed to chassis engineering and suspension design. The big Volvo utilizes an independent front suspension with MacPherson struts, coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. The rear of the S80 is suspended on independent multi-links and coil springs, bolstered by hydraulic shock absorbers and a rear stabilizer bar. This arrangement rewards drivers with very flat, predictable handling dynamics. By spooling up the turbo when cornering hard, the S80 will hunker down and dig its Pirellis into the pavement while holding a perfect arc as the G-forces rise and fall. Slight understeer keeps the car on-line, while the rear wheels remain firmly planted. There is little to no tendency for the rear of the S80 to swing out and cause a loss of control or significant oversteer.
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| By spooling up the turbo when cornering hard, the S80 will hunker down and dig its Pirellis into the pavement while holding a perfect arc. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
My test vehicle was equipped with the optional Touring Package, which strikes an excellent yet often elusive balance between handling and comfort. Accepting that the S80 is a luxury sedan, a firmer setup would defeat its purpose by excessively degrading ride quality, anything softer and the sporting soul of the S80 would be overshadowed by lethargic handling. Throughout my week of driving I found that it accomplished both highway driving and in-town bumbling with admirable composure and agility.
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| Little braking effort is required to bring the Volvo's flagship to repeated sure-footed stops. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
The antithesis of acceleration is braking. Here again the Volvo engineers have burnt the midnight oil, or should I say the midnight brake fluid. The S80 is equipped with large, powerful 4-wheel vented disc brakes. The braking modus operandi features antilock and electronic brake force distribution. Little braking effort is required to bring the S80 to repeated sure-footed stops. In fact, I found the pedal a little too sensitive for my liking, however that may not be the case for drivers with smaller ham hocks than mine. Thanks to its well-engineered chassis, emergency brake maneuvers in the S80 did not result in nosedive or forward pitching that could otherwise jeopardize control by causing a vehicle to become unsettled or destabilized.
