Though few would have believed it at the time, the launch of original S80 sedan from Volvo would have several important effects on the Sweden-based firm.
First off, it gave Volvo a vehicle that was truly a luxury car, though at the lower end of the scale. Previously, Volvo primarily sold middle-class cars at the upper end of the scale.
Secondly, the exceedingly handsome S80 was said to have caught the eye of Ford's chairman at the time, Jac Nasser, and that resulted in the Detroit firm's decision to add Volvo to its global product chain.
Thirdly, it was the model that began the progression of Volvo's public image, an evolution which can best be described as "safety nanny to safety nanny in a short skirt."
Exciting, important stuff, and way beyond the scope of the second generation of the large sedan that's due late this year as an all-wheel-drive 2007 model with either a new inline-six engine or an established V-8. The new model will come with a "dynamic design language, a firm focus on premium comfort, smooth driving properties, and world-class safety."
Right off I would dispute the "world-class safety" designation because the new S80 does not have a crash-notification system (the kind that sends help to the vehicle's exact location even if the occupants are themselves unable to ask for it).
The 2007 S80 does have active cruise-control as an option, which will help stop the car from plowing into the vehicle in front of it, but there is nothing else in the way of crash-avoidance systems, which make up the latest and possibly greatest frontier of safety.
The active cruise-control does allow the vehicle to tense its brakes, however, which can be useful in shortening its stopping distance.
Also optional are the Bi-Xenon headlights that are currently trendy in luxury cars because they swivel to point in the direction of a turn rather than always straight-ahead. The safety advance here is supposed to come from better visibility.
There's also something called the advanced Personal Car Communicator (PCC) remote control unit that allows the driver to check the S80's security status to determine if, for example, it's still locked or whether the alarm has been activated or if there's someone hiding inside the cabin with a pulse that the sensor can detect.
The S80 will debut at the Geneva Motor Show on February 28 but will have no Canadian showings before its expected arrival in Volvo dealerships in the second half of the year.
Fredrik Arp, the president and CEO of Volvo Cars, admits the S80 does battle in "an immensely tough segment where the competition is razor-sharp and the customers have very high expectations."
To challenge this, Arp and his people have created a luxury sedan that "radiates what we call 'Scandinavian Luxury'," which means "clean and elegant lines and intelligent functionality where every single detail has been designed with the user's well-being in mind." It's supposed to "combine aesthetics and technology in an inviting and intelligent way."
Steve Mattin, Volvo's design director, says 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 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."
The 2007 S80 will be the first sedan model available with the company's compact, transversely-mounted 4.4-litre V-8, producing 311-hp and 325 lb-ft of torque.
The S80 will also offer a new, non-turbo, 3.2-litre inline-six, mated to a six-speed automatic that sends 232 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels.
For more money, the new S80 can be equipped with an optional Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept (Four-C) active chassis, which automatically adjusts chassis settings to better suit the current driving conditions.
For further control, performance and safety, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) is fitted as standard equipment.
Another option is the Volvo Premium Sound audio system, which combines a Digital ICE power amplifier from Alpine, Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound processing, and loudspeakers from DynAudio of Denmark.
Overall, Arp seems to like the S80's chances, particularly with people who currently don't drive a Volvo. "We are convinced that the new Volvo S80 will be a very strong contender that will appeal to many new customers. We expect 70 percent of the 50,000 cars a year to be purchased by customers who do not drive a Volvo today. The main markets will be the USA, Germany, Spain, Sweden and China."
Prices for the 2007 S80 have not been announced, but the current model sells in the $55,000 to $65,000 range, but we can expect the addition of the V-8 to push that range up.
photo:Volvo Canada
First off, it gave Volvo a vehicle that was truly a luxury car, though at the lower end of the scale. Previously, Volvo primarily sold middle-class cars at the upper end of the scale.
Secondly, the exceedingly handsome S80 was said to have caught the eye of Ford's chairman at the time, Jac Nasser, and that resulted in the Detroit firm's decision to add Volvo to its global product chain.
Thirdly, it was the model that began the progression of Volvo's public image, an evolution which can best be described as "safety nanny to safety nanny in a short skirt."
Exciting, important stuff, and way beyond the scope of the second generation of the large sedan that's due late this year as an all-wheel-drive 2007 model with either a new inline-six engine or an established V-8. The new model will come with a "dynamic design language, a firm focus on premium comfort, smooth driving properties, and world-class safety."
Right off I would dispute the "world-class safety" designation because the new S80 does not have a crash-notification system (the kind that sends help to the vehicle's exact location even if the occupants are themselves unable to ask for it).
The 2007 S80 does have active cruise-control as an option, which will help stop the car from plowing into the vehicle in front of it, but there is nothing else in the way of crash-avoidance systems, which make up the latest and possibly greatest frontier of safety.
The active cruise-control does allow the vehicle to tense its brakes, however, which can be useful in shortening its stopping distance.
Also optional are the Bi-Xenon headlights that are currently trendy in luxury cars because they swivel to point in the direction of a turn rather than always straight-ahead. The safety advance here is supposed to come from better visibility.
There's also something called the advanced Personal Car Communicator (PCC) remote control unit that allows the driver to check the S80's security status to determine if, for example, it's still locked or whether the alarm has been activated or if there's someone hiding inside the cabin with a pulse that the sensor can detect.
The S80 will debut at the Geneva Motor Show on February 28 but will have no Canadian showings before its expected arrival in Volvo dealerships in the second half of the year.
Fredrik Arp, the president and CEO of Volvo Cars, admits the S80 does battle in "an immensely tough segment where the competition is razor-sharp and the customers have very high expectations."
To challenge this, Arp and his people have created a luxury sedan that "radiates what we call 'Scandinavian Luxury'," which means "clean and elegant lines and intelligent functionality where every single detail has been designed with the user's well-being in mind." It's supposed to "combine aesthetics and technology in an inviting and intelligent way."
Steve Mattin, Volvo's design director, says 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 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."
The 2007 S80 will be the first sedan model available with the company's compact, transversely-mounted 4.4-litre V-8, producing 311-hp and 325 lb-ft of torque.
The S80 will also offer a new, non-turbo, 3.2-litre inline-six, mated to a six-speed automatic that sends 232 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels.
For more money, the new S80 can be equipped with an optional Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept (Four-C) active chassis, which automatically adjusts chassis settings to better suit the current driving conditions.
For further control, performance and safety, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) is fitted as standard equipment.
Another option is the Volvo Premium Sound audio system, which combines a Digital ICE power amplifier from Alpine, Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound processing, and loudspeakers from DynAudio of Denmark.
Overall, Arp seems to like the S80's chances, particularly with people who currently don't drive a Volvo. "We are convinced that the new Volvo S80 will be a very strong contender that will appeal to many new customers. We expect 70 percent of the 50,000 cars a year to be purchased by customers who do not drive a Volvo today. The main markets will be the USA, Germany, Spain, Sweden and China."
Prices for the 2007 S80 have not been announced, but the current model sells in the $55,000 to $65,000 range, but we can expect the addition of the V-8 to push that range up.
photo:Volvo Canada
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