Volvo S80 - model year 2009

Volvo S80 - model year 2009

Launch

The Volvo S80 is the second generation of Volvo's large prestige sedan, launched at the Geneva motor show in the spring of 2006. The S80 model is a luxurious car with an elegant and dynamic profile influenced by modern Scandinavian design.

A powerful V8 engine and a particularly compact six-cylinder in-line engine provide performance and driving comfort of absolute top class. The V8 engine features Volvo's electronically controlled All-Wheel Drive. An active chassis is available as an option, contributing to the car's highly dynamic driving characteristics. A new generation of driving and support systems together with a further-enhanced body structure and advanced interior safety systems all interact to contribute to the high level of safety, both preventive and protective.

Business project manager: Silvia Güllsdorf.

New features, Volvo S80, model year 2009 - brief summary

• Exterior rear emblem with increased space between the letters
• Rear spoiler
• Savile Grey Pearl exterior colour
• Caper Green Pearl exterior colour
• Modified front head restraints
• "Auto Closing" buttons with side ridges
• Sun curtains for the rear doors
• Modernised claret walnut wood inlay
• HomeLink system
• 2.5T 5-cyl Flexifuel engine
• Self Supporting Tyres
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
• Atla 16" aluminium wheel
• Cassini 17" aluminium wheel

Please note that some systems and functions are optional.

Design

The Volvo S80 has the same overall length as its predecessor (4850 mm), but is 27 mm broader and 34 mm taller. The wheelbase is longer and the track is wider. All this creates entirely different proportions, with added stance and dynamism in the car's visual expression. In order to give the car a solid and compact image, the contours have been rounded and the bonnet has a raised profile. The headlamps, which are positioned lower down than in the previous S80 model, follow the curvature of the front and have been extended along the side and up towards the bonnet, creating a gentle smile at the front.

The doors are more convex and pronounced in shape. They now also include the rearmost side window. The shoulder line is both higher and broader than before, and the sills have a more pronounced profile, creating a visually lower centre of gravity and imparting a steadier, more stable appearance.

In order to give the Volvo S80 the right aura of elegance and create an image of being in constant motion, the car has more sweeping lines than before, with a comet-shaped profile, an almost imperceptible transition between the rear window and the boot and an abruptly cut-off tail section.

A somewhat larger, vertical grille marks the car's Volvo heritage. The bonnet's characteristic V-shaped lines have been extended all the way down into the spoiler. And those typical Volvo tail lamps now have a slimmer profile that blends in smoothly with the broad shoulders. LED lights at the top enhance the Volvo heritage clearly even in the dark.

As of model year 2009, the space between the letters in the rear Volvo emblem has been increased in order to enhance visibility of the brand. The individual letters will also be larger.

The new rear spoiler is a discreet colour-coordinated accessory. It enhances the car's sporty appearance and helps improve the car's handling characteristics - especially at high speeds. The spoiler is made of lightweight plastic.

Following colours will be available for the 2008 Volvo S80:

    * Black Stone Solid (019)

    * Ice White Solid (614)

    * Silver Metallic (426)

    * Black Sapphire Metallic (452)

    * White Pearl (453)

    * Ruby Red Pearl (454)

    * Titanium Grey Pearl (455)

    * Barents Blue Pearl (466)

    * Magic Blue Pearl (467)

    * Willow Green Metallic (471)

    * Oyster Grey Pearl (472)

    * Shimmer Gold Pearl (473)

    * Electric Silver Metallic (477)

    * Ember Black Pearl (487)

    * New colour: Savile Grey Pearl (492)

    * New colour: Caper Green Pearl (493)

The interior design is characterised by clean surfaces, harmonious lines, exciting contrasts and smooth function - expressions of Scandinavian design tradition that help forge a dynamic and harmonious interior atmosphere.

The Volvo S80 has a super-slim centre console similar to the one introduced earlier in Volvo's medium-segment models. In the S80, the centre console has been modified to blend in seamlessly with the car's more classic and exclusive design, and it extends all the way to the rear seat.

If the car is equipped with power front seats, they can be optionally specified with upholstery in perforated and ventilated leather. Fans in the seat cushion quickly reduce cushion temperature to a pleasant level and contribute to high seating comfort. The rear seat splits and folds. The front passenger seat backrest can also be folded.

As of model year 2009, new front head restraints will be introduced due to legal demands. The new front head restraints have reduced width and 25 mm increased height. Buttons with the "Auto Closing" function now have side ridges in order to prevent window/sunroof buttons from being activated by mistake (e.g., by a child or a dog) - something that can easily happen.

Sun curtains for the rear doors are available as an option. The sun curtains are fully integrated into the rear door panels. The sun curtains are hung on the hook in the upper edge of the door. The window can be opened without lowering the sun curtain as it is not held up by the window.

A new modernised claret walnut wood inlay will be introduced as an option. The new inlay will give the interior a more elegant and dynamic design. A total of nine different surfaces will be offered.

Safety

Volvo Cars has a holistic approach to safety, which encompasses both preventive and protective safety. Preventive safety - the avoidance of accidents - was one of the most important starting points when the S80 was being developed. It led to the creation of an entirely new generation of advanced driving and support systems.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) uses a radar sensor to help the driver maintain the distance to the vehicle in front. Collision Warning with Brake Support (CW) helps avoid rear-end impacts, minimising the risk of such collisions.

The Volvo S80 is also equipped with BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) and IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System), two innovations that help the driver maintain better control over the traffic situation. BLIS registers if another vehicle is in the offset rear blind spot alongside the car and alerts the driver via a visual signal. IDIS helps stop the driver being distracted by non-essential information in pressing situations, for instance by delaying incoming phone calls or SMS.

Active Bending Lights - moving headlamp beams that follow the curvature of the road - help maintain the best possible visibility in the dark on twisting roads.

Personal Car Communicator (PCC) is an advanced control centre in pocket format. At the touch of a button, the car owner can instantly find out whether ...

... the car is locked or unlocked ...

... the alarm has been activated ...

... the alarm has been set off and someone is inside the car.

Protective safety in the Volvo S80 is structured in the form of a network of exterior and interior safety systems that interact to reduce the risk of occupant injury in the event of a collision. The exterior systems have the task of distributing and absorbing incoming collision forces so that the passenger space is preserved as intact as possible. The body is therefore built in the form of a box-section structure using varying grades of steel, with all the components interacting to provide controlled deformation.

Like the rest of the Volvo range, the Volvo S80 features a transversely installed engine and front-wheel drive. Transverse engine installation provides more deformation space in the engine compartment and helps reduce the risk of engine intrusion into the passenger compartment in a frontal collision. The larger six- and eight-cylinder engines have also been able to be installed transversely in the S80 model thanks to their extremely compact dimensions and effective packaging.

The purpose of the interior safety systems is to keep the passengers securely in place and to minimise the risk of serious injuries. In order to provide the most effective protection possible, Volvo Cars has developed a number of unique systems. Side-impact airbag makes Volvo's patented SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) even more effective. The side-impact airbags feature two separate inflation chambers - one at hip height and one at chest height. Since the hips can withstand greater impact than the chest can, the lower chamber is inflated at five times higher pressure than the upper section. The side-impact airbags interact with the inflatable curtains (IC) and the body's network of beams to protect as effectively as possible.

Volvo's system for avoiding neck injuries - WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System) - is one of the most effective on the market. In the event of a severe impact from the rear, the front seat backrest and head restraint move together with the occupant's body, thus damping its movement much like the way the arms move rearward when catching a ball. In the latest generation of WHIPS, the system's function has been further developed to provide an even smoother "catching" motion.

All five seats are equipped with three-point inertia reel safety belts, belt pre-tensioners and head restraints. The highest possible safety requires that all occupants always use their safety belts.

The Volvo S80 can be equipped with the HomeLink system. The system makes it possible to operate up to three remote controlled home devices (e.g., garage door, home alarm system, etc.) via a module integrated into the sun visor. HomeLink contributes to easy and safe access to your home.

Driveline and chassis

Like the rest of the Volvo range, the Volvo S80 has a transverse driveline and front-wheel drive, or alternatively All-Wheel Drive (AWD). The transverse engine installation permits effective space utilisation for deformation in the engine compartment and also makes it possible to create a more spacious passenger compartment.

When the Volvo S80 was launched in the spring of 2006, a 3.2-litre super-compact six-cylinder in-line aluminium engine was also introduced. The engine features an advanced valve train with two lift heights and a variable intake system that contributes both to good performance and considerable fuel efficiency. Several innovative solutions have also made it possible to build the engine with particularly compact overall dimensions.

The T6 engine, as it is designated, is combined with All Wheel Drive in the Volvo S80. The T6 uses twin-scroll technology and is optimised for a very sporty driving experience.

The T6 engine is optimised for a very sporty driving experience. At the same time, it is programmed to give the highest possible performance with the lowest possible fuel consumption and exhaust emission levels. With four-wheel drive - All Wheel Drive - the engine is utilised in an optimal manner by transferring the maximum amount of power onto the road surface.

There are five-cylinder engines on offer as well, including the highly energy-efficient second-generation D5 Volvo turbo-diesel and a petrol engine with a light-pressure turbocharger.

The D5 is available in the four-wheel drive Volvo S80 AWD. The combination of All Wheel Drive and the high torque of the diesel engine results in exceptional accessibility and driveability on all road conditions and in all situations, and also provides very good fuel economy. The Volvo S80 D5 AWD will be offered with an automatic or manual gearbox, both with six speeds.

The Volvo S80 can be equipped with a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder Flexifuel engine (2.0F). Flexifuel is a driveline design that allows the engine to be run on petrol and/or E85 bioethanol. Bioethanol is a renewable fuel that contributes to a significant reduction of fossil carbon dioxide. A 2.5-litre, five-cylinder Flexifuel engine was introduced 2008. This engine features a turbocharger and produces 200 hp.

The 2.5 l 5-cylinder in-line turbo engine has been further developed and is now available in a Flexifuel model. The engine delivers 200 hp and 300 Nm torque. It is compatible with both manual and automatic gearboxes. The Flexifuel engine meets the European emission standard Euro 4.

The engine programme for the Volvo S80 is as follows:

*All diesel engines have a turbo function.

The chassis with MacPherson struts at the front and Multilink axle at the rear is designed to ensure predictable driving manners and alert steering response. The Multilink rear axle is an independent suspension system with a number of links that are set up to provide a combination of controlled wheel movements and high level of riding comfort. Some of the links have the task of providing a certain degree of anti-skid steering effect. A long wheelbase and wide track together with an extremely torsionally rigid body contribute to the well-controlled driving manners.

The Volvo S80 with V8 or six-cylinder engine can optionally be specified with an active chassis based on Volvo's Four-C technology. With this system, the chassis setting is automatically adjusted to suit the current driving situation, thus improving both handling and ride comfort. Three alternative chassis settings allow the driver to alter the car's driving behaviour to suit his or her personal tastes at the mere touch of a button. The V8 version of the Volvo S80 is equipped with Volvo's All-Wheel Drive. The AWD system uses an electronically controlled hydraulically activated clutch to distribute power between the front and rear wheels to provide the best possible road grip in all situations.

Volvo's advanced DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) system is fitted as standard. DSTC steps in and helps the driver bring the car back in line if there is any tendency to skid.

The Volvo S80 can be equipped with Self Supporting Tyres. A Self Supporting Tyre is constructed with stiffer sidewalls in order to carry the intended weight even if a puncture occurs. It is possible to drive at a maximum of 80 km/h for 80 km (fully loaded car) with Self Supporting Tyres. Driveability with a punctured tyre is almost equivalent to an optimally inflated tyre.

Two new aluminium wheels are available: Atla 16" and Cassini 17".

Another new feature for 2009 is that the Volvo S80 can be equipped with the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System - a control system that warns of low pressure in the tyres. The system has a pressure sensor integrated into the inflation valve in each wheel. The sensors are activated by an accelerometer at speeds over approximately 40 km/h.

The environment and air quality

The Volvo S80 is built and equipped to impact as little as possible on the global environment and to provide a clean and healthy in-car environment. Petrol engines with low internal friction, efficient combustion and advanced exhaust filtration techniques all help produce low emission levels. Energy-efficient diesel engines produce low emissions of carbon dioxide and particulates.

Volvo IAQS (Interior Air Quality System) effectively reduces the amount of particles, pollen, gases and certain unpleasant odours in the air that enters the passenger compartment. In addition, all textiles and leather are certified under ÖKO-TEX 100. This is an international standard, which ensures that fabrics and hides have been thoroughly tested to check for certain allergy-inducing substances and emissions.

The climate unit can also be supplemented with the Clean Zone Interior Package, an advanced system that provides healthier air quality inside the passenger compartment (approved by the Swedish Association against Asthma and Allergy). When the car is unlocked using the remote control, the passenger compartment is automatically ventilated for about a minute if the outdoor temperature exceeds 10 degrees Celsius.