The 2010 Volvo S80 facelift has been unveiled today, but it's public premiere will take place at the Geneva Motor Show in a few days. The exterior design of the 2010 Volvo S80 facelift features a new grille with a larger iron mark badge and chrome details on the air intakes, lower part of the doors and under the tail lamps.
The 2010 Volvo S80 facelift offers new engines, including the 2.4D, D5 and the low CO2 emissions DRIVe.
The 2010 Volvo S80 facelift also comes with a choice between a comfort-enhancing standard chassis or a sport one that offers better handling dynamics.
The 2010 Volvo S80 facelift price will be announced at a later date.
Volvo Press Release:
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 center 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 aluminum 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.
Sports chassis gives enhanced driving pleasure in the Volvo S80 and customers more freedom of choice
Volvo Cars is introducing a sports chassis that is a more dynamic alternative for the refreshed Volvo S80. It offers both increased driving pleasure and crisper response.
At the same time, the comfort-enhancing standard chassis comes with even more limousine ride comfort. Customers thus have the opportunity to tailor their cars to suit their wishes - for inspired and enthusiastic driving or relaxed long-distance comfort.
"For some customers, the driving experience is what is most important, while others prioritise ride comfort," says Stefan Sällqvist, section manager for vehicle dynamics at Volvo Cars. "We've thoroughly analysed what it is that characterises the different needs and accordingly designed two alternative chassis with entirely different natures."
Lower and more rigid chassis gives a sporty profile
In order to meet the wishes of S80 customers more interested in an enthusiastic driving style, Volvo has made the chassis far more rigid than before. The car has been lowered 20 millimeters at the front and 15 millimeters at the rear. This not only results in a more stable chassis, it also carves out a more powerful and compact visual profile for the car.
The springs are shorter and firmer. The shock absorbers have greater damping ability, on both compression and extension strokes. All the mountings on the sub-frame have harder bushings. The anti-roll bars have also been made firmer to give increased side stability in curves. This results in crisp steering feel and good control, particularly in more active driving. This is further aided by the steering gear which has been tailored to provide quicker response and increased feel, giving more direct contact with the tires and road surface.
In order to provide additional stability, the sports chassis is fitted with automatic leveling as standard. It keeps the car's body parallel with the road surface whatever the driving conditions, both when fully loaded and with only the driver on board.
"The new sports chassis provides plenty of driving pleasure," says Stefan Sällqvist. "The car has a whole new character and it feels far more compact than it actually is. At the same time, however, we haven't had to sacrifice much in the way of comfort. The passengers still ride in great style but for those interested solely in a smoother ride, we have a special variant dedicated entirely to providing sumptuous ride comfort."
Comfort chassis with enhanced limousine feel
In parallel with the development of the new sports chassis, the standard chassis has been given a distinctly more comfortable nature than before, with somewhat softer springs and less damping. It is designed to offer long-distance ride comfort of absolute limousine quality, not least in the rear seat.
"One chassis has now become two," says Stefan Sällqvist. "This means we do not have to compromise, while at the same time giving our customers added choice. We have one chassis for those who really enjoy an active driving style and another for those who simply enjoy a sumptuous ride. Having said all this, however, it's really difficult to do the technology justice just by talking about it. It's all about feel. And that has to be experienced out on the road."
