Geneva Preview: Volvo readies updated S80 for Swiss debut
by Damon Lavrinc on Feb 26th 2009 at 3:59PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Volvo S80
Amidst the turmoil surrounding the future of Volvo, the Swedish automaker is plugging away on refreshing its current line-up and offering an updated range of start-stop-equipped models. Joining the new DRIVE models at the Geneva Motor Show will be a reworked version of the automaker's flagship, the 2010 Volvo S80 sedan.
The exterior benefits from a new grille featuring an up-sized emblem, along with a splash of chrome on the lower front fascia, side skirts and underneath the rear tail lamps. A new steering wheel is fitted inside, joining a set of redesigned, XC60-inspired gauges and brushed faux-metal trim surrounding the start button and shifter.
For the U.S., the engine options remain the same, with buyers able to choose from a 235-horsepower, 3.2-liter inline-six, a 281-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six or a 311-hp, 4.4-liter V8, the latter two equipped with standard all-wheel-drive. Across the pond, a new 2.4-liter twin-turbo five-cylinder diesel putting out 175 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque will be made available, along with a choice of comfort or sport suspension setups.
The 2010 Volvo S80 will hit dealers in the U.S. this summer and is expected to carry a slight bump in its base price.
Gallery: 2010 Volvo S80
[Source: Volvo]
PRESS RELEASE
THE NEW VOLVO S80 – SMALL CHANGES THAT ADD UP TO A BIG DIFFERENCE
Volvo Cars has announced first details of the new Volvo S80 executive saloon which will be available in the UK this summer. The changes give the car a more distinctive, dynamic design and striking face, while the interior offers enhanced luxury and comfort.
The new Volvo S80 will also feature three new diesel engines, the 2.4D, D5 and the low CO2-emitting DRIVe. As well as providing the Volvo S80 with a different driving experience, the car will also benefit from lower fuel consumption and fewer emissions. The Volvo S80 will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on 3 March 2009.
"The new S80 should not just be seen, it has to be experienced. The atmosphere inside is both more comfortable and luxurious. We've also made the interior more driver-oriented, with a new steering wheel and upgraded instruments," says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell.
Detail and quality
Steve Mattin, Volvo Cars design director, and his team have increased the exterior's appeal with a number of modifications that give the S80 a lower, longer and wider stance.
The front is more distinctive with a new grille featuring the larger iron mark badge, which is part of the more extrovert DNA as seen in recent Volvo models, including the new XC60 crossover. There is also new chrome detailing on the air intakes, lower part of the doors and under the tail lamps.
The interior of the car has a clear focus on exclusivity and comfort. The soft, cosseting leather seats with matching stitching are accompanied by door panels echoing the same trim. The super-slim floating centre stack is upgraded with a Silk Metal frame that enhances its exclusive feel, while simultaneously creating a design link to the Volvo XC60.
The instruments in the new Volvo S80 feature exclusive aluminium dials and Volvo is also launching a new generation of steering wheel. The décor trim with Silk Matte metal-effect finish on the four-spoke steering wheel is also found in the gear selector and around the starter button.
New diesel engines
The new S80 will also offer a completely different driving experience due to the introduction of three diesel engines. The twin-turbo five-cylinder 2.4-litre D5 turbodiesel offers 205 horsepower, 420Nm of torque over a very wide range of engine revs. Fuel consumption (EU combined) is 45.6mpg and 164g/km CO2 emissions (preliminary figures) – a particularly low figure for a car of this size and performance level.
The upgraded Euro 4-compliant 2.4-litre diesel engine will also be available with 175 horsepower, 420Nm of torque, fuel consumption (EU Combined) at 48.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 154g/km (preliminary figures).
The Volvo S80 DRIVe model will come equipped with the same powertrain – 1.6-litre diesel engine and manual gearbox – as the smaller C30, S40 and V50 but with specially tailored engine software and different ratios in third, fourth and fifth gears. The optimised powertrain is a major aid in helping the Volvo S80 significantly cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to 129g/km and 57.6mpg respectively (preliminary figures).
Volvo believes the Volvo S80 is in a segment that is dominated by customers with very firm expectations on exclusiveness, driving properties and brand image.
"Customers in this segment are often very brand-loyal. In order to appear on the radar of customers currently driving competitor cars, we have to offer something that is extra. We do this by offering exclusiveness and comfort of the absolute top level. In combination with world-leading safety, this makes the new S80 very hard to beat," commented Stephen Odell.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Michael 4:11PM (2/26/2009)
I like the styling.
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KeatMP 4:29PM (2/26/2009)
I really like the simplistically modern interior.
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Ligor 5:35PM (2/26/2009)
+1
Louis 4:31PM (2/26/2009)
Meanwhile the S60 languishes in obscurity. Kill the S60 and stick with just the S40 and S80.
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Quattroporte 4:40PM (2/26/2009)
"Kill the S60"
That would take away the possibility of replacing it with this.
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/volvo-s60-concept-4/1226605/full/
Stip 4:32PM (2/26/2009)
That's a handsome car. I'm glad they didn't change it radically.
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Quattroporte 4:32PM (2/26/2009)
"brushed faux-metal trim"
That's a fancy way of saying silver plastic, right? Actually, I really like the interior other than the "faux-metal".
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DJ_Swammi 4:38PM (2/26/2009)
Could be related to this:
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/23/volvo-moving-to-chrome-free-interiors/
Dave 4:33PM (2/26/2009)
311hp from a 4.4L V8? That sucks hard
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N 4:47PM (2/26/2009)
V8 is made by Yamaha... blame them.
TigerMil 6:45PM (2/26/2009)
Why is 311 from 4.4 such a bad deal? Volvo may have tuned for wide torque band (I haven't seen the curves). Years ago audi pulled 'only' 300 hp from 4.2 liters...using full up variable cam timing, etc. This engine is very close to the same state of tune (ratio of hp to displacement is essentially identical..if identical it would make 314hp) and the old 300hp 4.2 audi was quite good, conservative, and bulletproof.
jota 5:36PM (2/26/2009)
why? why? why? a "new" 300hp v8 engine... I will never understand why this keeps happening...
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James 5:38PM (2/26/2009)
The S80 is a wonderful, and too oft overlooked vehicle. The subtle changes here are nice, but... was it really necessary to make the front insignia larger? I don't like it.
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Kimura 5:49PM (2/26/2009)
I've always been a fan of Volvos elegantly simple interiors.
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TiSE 6:09PM (2/26/2009)
I've always like Volvos. You can get some pretty nice amenities but while having a somewhat understated and humble image on the outside. The problem however, is that the image is sometimes attractive, and Volvos get be pretty expensive when you start adding options.
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bgkeen 6:20PM (2/26/2009)
The backdrop they used is nice. I am assuming that us Monaco?
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Krimson 6:52PM (2/26/2009)
Audi called, they want their headlights back.
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bgkeen 11:53PM (2/26/2009)
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA. YOU ARE SO FUNNY!!! OH MY GOD! ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!!! DO YOU DO STAND UP!!! JESUS CHRIST I CAN'T STOP LAUGHING!!! I JUST LITERALLY FELL OFF OF MY CHAIR!!! OH MAN YOU ARE TOO MUCH!
Krimson 2:30AM (2/27/2009)
you seem to be something of an idiot. my condolences.
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bgkeen 10:32AM (2/27/2009)
DO YOU EVER STOP BEING SO FUNNY!!! AND YOU ARE SO POLITE TO!! OH MY GOD! SOMEONE SHOOT ME I THINK I AM IN LOVE!