Holy Geneva! 2007 Volvo S80 revealed in advance of Swiss debut
Volvo's renaissance started with 1999's S80 flagship sedan, and the turnaround appears to have come full circle with its successor, seen here for the first time without camouflage. In what looks to be yet another premature press photo distribution leak, the good folks who frequent SwedeSpeed have provided us with an advance glimpse into Gothenburg's gurus latest... well ahead of the car's Geneva coming-out party.
The exterior is clearly evolutionary and couldn't be anything other than a Volvo, but this is hardly unfortunate. Up top, more aggressively raked glass, along with a sharkfin antenna presents a sportier roofline, and the S80's corners have been substantially radiused, with headlights and taillamps appearing to 'wrap around' the car's perimeter, neatly integrating the front end turn signal lens in the process. Side cladding has also been minimized for a cleaner profile, and subtle cues like the second set of inboard character lines on the hood and less timid exhaustwork afford the S80 a more energetic and dynamic look.
[Further exposé including 7 additional photos inside-and-out after the jump]
As is plainly visible in the interior shot below, the S40's lyrical 'floating' center console has been pressed into service, and is set to become a styling trademark for all future Volvos. The absence of a key slot of any kind appears to indicate that Volvo's gone ahead and made good on keyless drive, which in all likelihood will manifest itself as a variant of Volvo's Personal Communicator (VPC) a small handheld computer that monitors and adjusts certain vehicle settings (everything from unlocking doors to monitoring theft threats), an idea seen first on Volvo's Safety Concept Car of 2001.
Preliminary intelligence indicates that the S80 will hold down Volvo's top rung with a three-engine range, a standard 3.2L six-cylinder with around 240 hp, an optional (and much needed) eight-cylinder displacing about 4.4L and sporting circa 315 hp, and an available five-cylinder diesel with around 180 hp-- the latter of which doesn't appear to be slated for U.S. consumption.
As ever, expect the all manner of safety kit, from Volvo's Four-C active chassis system to an impact warning system, radar cruise-control with heads-up display, DSTC (Dynamic Stability Traction Control), airbags fitted to seemingly every flat surface, and bi-xenon headlamps with an adjustable beam to peak 'round corners. All-wheel drive with Volvo's Instant Traction system will be optional on V8 models.
Finally armed with the cylinder count to do battle with larger-engined competitors like the BMW 5-Series, Lexus GS300, the big Swede appears at once fresh and true-to-form. Now, bring on that S80R, already.
[Thanks for the tip, Barry]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
UKvolvofan 9:48PM (2/13/2006)
I'm very disappointed with the new S80. Volvo based their mk1 S80 design on the old S40 and now have looked to the S60 for 2 box design instead of 3. Infact it just looks like an oversized S60. The front is boring too and doesn't look like a particular luxury or executive car. Volvo have played is safe here. Not daring enough. Shame on you Volvo!
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Richard Hancock 3:33PM (2/17/2006)
Superb new S80. Tonnes better than the current model. The Front a bit like an audi, but alltogher wonderful!
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Joshua 10:45AM (2/27/2006)
What a beautiful car. I have sold Volvo's for the last two years. I am impressed with the new look. This S80 will be very exciting to sell.
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Jolyon Spencer 5:55PM (3/01/2006)
This is silly, BMW/Audi/Mercedes look alike. Get a life it's a car, all have 4 wheels, 1 steering wheel and usually 4 or more seats. If it looked so so different no one would want it cus it would look odd. I say it's a nice car, and an improvement over the old S80.
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Tony Soprano 3:03PM (3/02/2006)
Like, ya tink Carmela would like it in a wagon? I don't smell nuttin' in dis car but a poor attitood on da part of summa yooz guys.
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v12power 1:56PM (3/06/2006)
::::::::::::FORD::::::::::::
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Kyle 4:58PM (3/22/2006)
This is the car and every car looks like another in some type of way there is no way to make a car completely unique. GO to volvocars.com and click on the 2007 Volvo s80 it has some amazing features.
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Rich Wittenberg 5:54PM (4/17/2006)
Currently a 2002 S80 T6 satisfied owner. When I change cars in a year I'll consider the new design for the S80 V8 (which I'm told will have better mileage than the T6) and a smoother ride since the same frame as the SUV. Also told that the V8 has significantly more guts than the T6. Like others would have preferred a more unique design.
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Keith Obei 9:13PM (4/17/2006)
Exterior looks clean but nothing revolutionary. Bland interior - needs redesign
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Cam 7:00AM (4/21/2006)
I love everything design-wise about the New S80. My only negative comment is the side profile; that S60-esque window shape.This makes it so that the rear passengers have the sun on them, due to the placement of the rear windsheild in cojunction with the ending of the rear window. It's a shame, they could have pulled it off. Hopefully when i see this car in person, it'll proove what i have written here today wrong.
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Volvo fan 7:35AM (5/02/2006)
AMAZING. There was something I did not like in previous models (S60, S80). Now the shape is just perfect... Nothing more nothing less. It has nothing common with German cars !!! Spit it out !
Volvo team - respect.
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RMB 2:01AM (5/11/2006)
I bought an 850, an S60, and can't wait to purchase this new S80. It looks very clean and impressive! My wife is sold on the floating console (purse storage), but for me its the keyless drive and V8!
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chas 5:05AM (6/12/2006)
I don't see any Audi influences here. There is some slight modernizing of the traditional Volvo wishbone design. Round off the edges of my 20 year old 760 and this is what you get. I'm of the opinion that Audi has moved toward the adoption of the look in recent years. Do a side-by-side comparison of a '90 quattro and a '90 760 and you'll see the elements are traditional volvo. The rear styling is again, an update of earlier designs. Look back a few years. They're almost identical. I'm not of the opinion that Volvo is interested in looking like Audi or Toyota. They have their own brand image and tend to cater to a demographic that identifies with it.
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Orlando 3:40AM (6/29/2006)
R&T reports this beautiful car (should have been a RWD!) does NOT have an engine temperature gauge. Can that be true?
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Gen-X 4:56PM (11/15/2006)
Meh. It reminds me of the previous generation 5-series, with a little S60 thrown in for effect.
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ebm14 7:22AM (1/30/2006)
I smell some German in this car...cough...BMW
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tariq 7:34AM (1/30/2006)
cough Audi(front end)
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Devin Lussier 7:49AM (1/30/2006)
Wow! I'm very impressed. Yet another Volvo I want...
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Phil 7:59AM (1/30/2006)
BMW? Audi? I don't see much of either in this car. I don't think the S80 is guilty of imitating competitors' design themes at all. The problem, rather, is that Volvo hasn't deviated at all from the look they established with the S60 and S40. It wouldn't have killed them to come up with some minor progression from what they've been doing for the last 8 years.
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shift 8:04AM (1/30/2006)
It looks like a more agressively racked S80 with bmw wheels. Thank god there's no more garbage T6....
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