Volvo S80

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Volvo S80
Manufacturer	Volvo Cars
Parent company	Ford Motor Company Premier Automotive Group
Production	1997–present
Assembly	Torslanda, Sweden
Predecessor	Volvo S90
Class	Executive car
Body style(s)	4-door sedan
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive

The Volvo S80 is an executive car produced by the Swedish automaker Volvo and was introduced in the end of 1997 as a replacement for the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 sedan. The very first Volvo S80 rolled off the assembly line on May 6. Every single S80 has been built in the Torslanda plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike almost all other Volvo models, it did not have a station wagon version for its first generation. Now, the third generation V70 wagon is marketed as the estate version for the second generation S80 sedan. All of this is a part of a major product overhaul at Volvo, including a most luxurious large estate and sedan. The first generation Volvo S80 had one of the world's highest crash test ratings in the premium mid size segment. The second generation Volvo S80 in June of 2007 scored the highest "good" rating in the IIHS crash test performance for frontal impacts ^[1].

First generation

First generation
Production	1997–2006
Platform	Volvo P2 platform
Engine(s)	2.0 I5 LPT 2.5 L I5 2.5 L I5 LPT 2.9 L I6 2.8/2.9 L twin-turbocharged I6 2.4 L I5 turbo Diesel
Transmission(s)	5-speed automatic 6-speed manual
Wheelbase	2790 mm (109.90 in)
Length	4820 mm (189.8 in) 2004-06: 4849 mm (190.90 in)
Width	1830 mm (72.10 in)
Height	1435 mm (57.20 in)
Fuel capacity	70 L (15.4 Imp. gallons) (18.4 U.S. gal)
Related	Ford Five Hundred Ford Freestyle Mercury Montego Volvo S60 Volvo V70 Volvo XC90

The first generation S80 is based on the Volvo P2 platform. More than 368,000 first generation S80s were built before the introduction of the new model. This S80 sedan being Volvo's flagship model was heavily equipped with numerous safety systems to ensure all occupants safety. The S80 was initially available with five different engines — a 2.4-litre 140 hp 5-cylinder (which was also available as a CNG and as an LPG version), a 2.4 L 170 PS (125 kW) 5 cylinder, a 2.9 L 196 PS (144 kw) 6-cylinder, the 272 PS (200 kW) T6 and the 163 PS (120 kW) 2.4 L D5. The 2.9 has a Straight-6 engine while the T6 was powered by a destroked twin-turbocharged version. In 2000 there was the addition of the 200 hp (149 kw) 2.5T, available with standard all-wheel drive. The 2.5T model featured a light-pressure turbocharger. The S80 was also optioned out as a limousine, which King Harald V of Norway uses as a representation vehicle.

Engines

Second generation

Second generation
Production	2006–present
Platform	Volvo P24- platform
Engine(s)	2.0L (4cyl), 2.0L (Flexifuel, 4-cyl), 2.5 L I5 LPT 3.2 L I6 4.4 L Volvo Yamaha V8 2.4 L I5 turbodiesel
Transmission(s)	6-speed automatic 6-speed manual
Wheelbase	2835 mm (111.6 in)
Length	4849 mm (190.9 in)
Width	1861 mm (73.2 in)
Height	1490 mm (58.6 in)
Fuel capacity	70 L (15.4 Imp. gallons) (18.4 U.S. gal)
Designer	Sylvia Gullsdorf

On January 31, 2006, Volvo unveiled the first pictures of the second generation S80. Generally all features of the car were upgraded substantially. The new S80 will feature a new 3.2 L straight-6 or 4.4 L V8 engine in combination with available four-wheel drive. The second-generation S80 is the first Volvo sedan model to become available with Volvo's compact, transversely fitted V8 with a power output of 316 PS (232 kw) and 440 N•m of torque. With four catalytic converters and advanced electronics, this engine, which was first introduced in the Volvo XC90, is one of the cleanest V8s on the market. The exterior is similar to that of the first generation but is greatly improved with more high strength boron steel in the body for safety. The interior is seen as one of the most comfortable in the automotive industry. The layout of all items is well placed and the HVAC control panel on the waterfall center console is superb. This second generation S80 is no exception to Volvo's on going improvements and inventions of safety. The second generation S80 has been give the IIHS 2007 Top Safety Pick Award in overall safety protection. Also again in November the IIHS awarded the 2008 Volvo S80 with Top Safety Award. This S80 performed outstanding above its German and Japanese rivals. Score perfect scores for frontal, side, and rear impacts. The car was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on February 28, and sales began on June 2006. The new S80 is based on the Volvo P24- platform which was mainly developed by Volvo itself, also used for vehicles including Ford's S-MAX and Galaxy large MPVs.^[2] Even although some of these other Ford vehicles ride on this platform, the majority of the cars' parts was made by Volvo alone and not found in the Ford. Volvo's Personal Car Communicator (PCC) remote control will also be an optional feature with the new S80. This feature is fairly new to the automotive industry. Before a driver gets to their car, they are able to review the security level and know whether they have set the alarm and if the car is locked. Additionally, there is a heartbeat sensor that warns if someone is hiding inside the car.

Blind spot detector on side mirrors.

The all new S80 is the first Volvo model to feature Adaptive cruise control (ACC) with Collision Warning and Brake Support (CWBS). Adaptive cruise control helps ensure comfort and relaxed driving by letting the driver select the desired speed and the minimum time gap to the vehicle in front of them. When a radar sensor detects a slower vehicle in front of them, Adaptive Cruise Control adapts to that vehicle by applying the brakes as necessary. As the Collision Warning System senses an impending collision, it alerts with a flashing light on the windshield and an audible alarm. Meanwhile Brake Support offers additional assistance by preparing the braking system so that the car can begin stopping faster and avoid a potentially dangerous situation before it happens. Volvo S80 is also available with a new safety innovation called Blind Spot Information System (BLIS, first seen in Volvo S40) which senses when a person enters the drivers blind spot and Active Bi-Xenon Lights (ABL) to illuminate around curves in the dark. Volvo is known for making historic strides in the production of intuitive new safety systems. BLIS system has been recently introduced at Mercedes-Benz higher specifications cars,nearly two years after Volvo.^[3] The second generation Volvo S80 is much more luxurious than the previous generation, and it flaunts its "Scandinavian Luxury" design language. It competes directly against the Saab 9-5, Lexus GS, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes Benz E-Class, Audi A6, and Acura RL. The second generation S80 has already won awards in best mid size luxury sedan interior.^[4]

Engines

References

1. ^ IIHS page about the S80
2. ^ Wim Oude Weernink and Bradford Wernle. Building Blocks: Ford learns a lesson from Lego. AutoWeek. Retrieved on March 30, 2006.
3. ^ http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=122829
4. ^ http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsHistory/Volvo-S80-3.2-SE-Sport/222797/

External links

• All New Volvo S80 - Official Volvo S80 PR Site
• Nilsson Special Vehicles - Special vehicles such as limousines based on the Volvo S80 chassis.
• New S80 Intro Site - New 2007 Volvo S80 Introduction Site (Flash)