Volvo revives big executive saloon
New 4.4-litre V8-powered S80 does the motorway cruising thing
  Volvo S80 |
Following the new Volvo S80’s world debut at the Geneva motor show this week, Volvo has revealed more details of its second generation executive saloon.
Yes, it's a Volvo. But it does have a 310bhp 4.4-litre V8 pushing out 325lb-ft of torque, which should punt you along the motorway adequately -- which relieves the strain on the serious driving tool in the garage.
Volvo's biggest car, it tops the range. First launched in 1998 and built at Volvo's plant in Gothenburg, with the S80 the Swedish company is aiming for the jugular of the usual suspects: Mercedes and BMW, the doyens of the luxury executive car market. Volvo reckoned that the new S80's advantages include its distinctive Scandinavian style combined with ride and handling characteristics developed specifically for UK roads.
Engines
The four-wheel drive car comes with four engine options, and the 4.4-litre V8 is claimed to be the world's most compact of its kind. The first time a V8's been fitted to a Volvo, the aluminium motor is in a 60-degree configuration and is fitted transversely to maximise the space available for crash protection. According to Volvo, "a counter-rotating balancer shaft contributes to the engine's V8 sound and steady rhythm".
There's also a 3.2-litre 235bhp straight-six petrol engine which is, unusually for a straight six, also transversely fitted. There is also a pair of diesels, the biggest of which delivers 295lb-ft of torque, and a 2.5-litre mill to make up the numbers. The last three are all five-potters.
Design and features
In terms of exterior design, you can make up your own mind. Volvo describes it as possessing "more sweeping lines and elegance than its predecessor", although its both wider by 27mm and 34mm taller. It's also more rounded -- as many new cars are, for mandatory safety reasons -- something Volvo can claim as a brand attribute.
Inside the car, Volvo claimed its focus on quality and environmental issues have resulted in a world first: a Clean Zone Interior package – a development of Volvo's existing electronic climate control and Interior Air Quality System. It provides air that's approved by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association and is aimed at the increasing number of people suffering from various forms of sensitivity.
Another feature of the interior is the ultra-slim centre console which stretches back to the rear seat and hosts a number of functions for storing and connecting accessories such as an iPod. Kit includes satnav, plus a digital Class D amplifier harnessed to MP3-compatible components from Alpine and Bang & Olufsen providing Dolby 5.1 surround sound. There's a Bluetooth hands-free system too, and a DVD screen in the back. There's leather throughout, plus more legroom in the front and rear and ventilated leather upholstery with fans in the seat cushion and backrest are optional extras.
Chassis
Volvo's Four-C active chassis has been developed for the all new S80 and is now available with three suspension settings – comfort, sport and advanced.
The system uses sensors to monitor the car's behaviour and can adjust the damper and chassis settings to suit the current driving situations. This helps control the car and reduces squat, dip or roll under acceleration, hard braking or fast steering manoeuvres, said Volvo. The company didn't say anything about thraping along twisty A-roads...
Safety
Volvo's big on safety, of course, so you get all the latest features and a pile of alphabet soup. This includes Volvo's BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) and IDIS5 (Intelligent Driver Information System), plus bi-xenon headlights, and a new Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) which uses a radar sensor to continuously measure and maintain a safe distance from the car in front by automatically adjusting the car's speed.
Other active safety features include a collision warning system that uses radar to monitor the area in front of the car. If the driver doesn't react to a car in front, it triggers an audible signal and a red warning light flashes on the windscreen. If the driver brakes hard the system flashes the brake lights to warn those behind. If the driver still doesn't react and the risk of a hitting the car in front increases, the brakes kick in, Mercedes-style.
Passive safety features include a collapsible steering wheel, airbags galore, an anti-whiplash system, seatbelt reminders and a box girder built round you.
Details
Full prices and specifications are due to be released at the end of March, prior to the cars arriving in UK showrooms in June/July.
Nhudson said:
"It provides air that's approved by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association and is aimed at the increasing number of people suffering from various forms of sensitivity."
Surely thats not a good thing?
Read it again: aimed at the increasing number, NOT at increasing the number...
You know it will be a good Volvo - safe, comfy and with a good stereo and interesting sounding engine, but with not a single notable point other than those. A lot of people like that though, I suppose.
I hoped the Yamaha V8 would spice things up but..
Ali.
I didn't mind them before they were pretentious and tried to convince everyone they're a family mans thoroughbred sports car (i.e I don't mind the tough 340s, 740s,940s, 240s etc etc).
They can't engineer engines properly, the Short I 6 is long by BMW standards, and very tall, the combustion chamber is yacky
and the ports are even worse but this is what you expect from a design ethos/mentality that's so out of wack in terms of performance enthusiast priorities (no I don't care what levels of boost the present models achieve to get good magazine figures). They're wrong wheel drive. If that V8 is a 60 degree and uses balancer shafts it's almost certainly a flat plane crank- which means it will sound like a heap of pooh.
"a counter-rotating balancer shaft contributes to the engine's V8 sound and steady rhythm".
Wrong! Employ some decent engineers - but I guess that would mean you'd have to pay them more than peanuts! The balancer shaft won't change the V8s sound characteristics , only the vibration, and "steady rhythm"? So it will change the firing intervals now will it?
And worst of all, this thing wheezes out a pathetic 70 BHP/litre. This is from a flat plane crank V8 (which has an advantage over a conventional V8 in the breathing/tuning stakes), which is with twin cams, 32 valves probably with VCT. If I'd gone to all the bother and expense of fitting all that I would expect more that 2 valve push rod levels of output!
Will no doubt appeal to the family man with zero imagination and need to be seen to be safe and responsible......
I must introduce myself as a Volvo user of some 40 years and respect your introducing yourself as a BMW enthusiast and sometime acknowledger of the merit of some older Volvos that I found pretty rum.
To my knowledge this V8 'Volvo' engine is from a Yamaha drawing board brought in by Ford in a tradition of Volvo, when independant, buying in from or cooperating with Renault.
There will obviuosly be criticism of just getting any old V8 in the Volvo range for the US market.However, my understanding is that Volvo have never had an intention of competing with BMW or anyone else for that matter in a particular market for high performance vehicles and should not be judged on that score. If they did indeed have a look into that area with their recent 'R' models they cocked up seriously on the price /performance front vis a vis BMW. Audi et al.
However, I do not agree that Volvo have not knocked out some cars in the last 10 years that have substantial merit. Their recent 5 pots have a serious following amongst some quite discerning youngsters and can be modified carefully with surprising results. Their XC90 has been universally and critically acclaimed and the upcoming C30 should show well against the smaller Audis and Series 1 BMW's albeit not rwd..
The interesting issue has allways been the number of Volvo owners who would not want to display the image created of avaricious estate agents and ariviste entrepreneurs that seems to associate itself to the more thoughtfull with BMW ownership.
Regards, Don.Norchi.
PS I trust you are not an estate agent...
Volvo is part of Ford's PAG along with Jaguar and Landrover. Range Rover already uses the Jag V8, so it would be within Ford's usual strategy to use Jag engines here. Some might see it as not good for Jag though; some might see it the other way.
JJ
Good that we agree that the old Volvos were of merit.
Interesting that it is inferred that Volvo ownership is an action that is for “the more thoughtful”. I can see why this conclusion could be reached on the shores of England where quite often NEW BMWs are driven by a certain type. However I doubt an estate agent would be seen driving a BMW as old as mine
The New Mini is probably more up their street. I wouldn’t attribute anyone who would have to recall acclaims from the auto tabloids to bolster as being thoughtful really. Someone who digs deep into the engineering merit and ignores the image, perhaps (besides the image of Bimmers, even new ones, where I live is quite different).
I didn’t know the ex-Audi cast off 5 pot engine had a following in the Volvo. Certainly, when I was last in North London (1 month ago) there was no such cult amongst any of my younger friends. Perhaps things have changed since then.
PS: I trust you’re not family man with a need to appear thoughtful and responsible
JJ- the engine has nothing to do with the Jaguar engine. The Jaguar engine is a good unit, it breaths, has very efficient combustion, low friction, good power, but wouldn’t fit transversely into a Wrong wheel drive/4 wheel drive application and meet crash regs.
>> Edited by Marquis_Rex on Thursday 2nd March 10:04
Also consider when evaluating depreciation that Volvo's dont generally sell at anywhere near their list values, possibly XC90 excepted though I suspect this will be changing now.
I regret that I am probably not particularly responsible or a familly man, but I hope some may consider me thoughtfull....whether those very thoughts have any merit....
It is my experience that the Volvo 5 pot turbos have quite a following both in Europe and in North America and a fair few are modified to good effect and enjoyed. I am sure that you would see that driving a 300 odd bhp front drive car with resolved handling is quite a hoot if you can get yourself into such an animal.
You can find a fairly lively UK community of the changing Volvo drivers at www.volvoclub.org.uk and www.swedespeed.com plus www.volvospeed.com in North America.
On the new in line 6 it is made at Ford's Bridgend plant and will be badged for Jaguar product in the near future.
Regards, Don.Norchi.
don kalmar union said:´
On the new in line 6 it is made at Ford's Bridgend plant and will be badged for Jaguar product in the near future.
Regards, Don.Norchi.
Ok, I stand corrected on this wonderful and no doubt free revving 5 pot powerunit.
However the in line six will NOT be used in a Jaguar product.
Yes Yes, youre probably going to show me a magazine snippet or some other leaked info, however I used to work for Jaguar R and D so this will no longer happen
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