The Volvo S80 was a mid-size luxury 4-door sedan introduced in 1998 as the replacement of the rear-wheel-drive Volvo 960. As a side note, Volvo renamed the saloon model of the 960 as the S90 in 1996 to follow the naming codes used on their other models.
Volvo marketed the S80 as its flagship model executive car. It represented the Swedish automaker’s departure from their conservative and square-edged styling to the now more common curved body lines. Together with Volvo’s integration of safety and high technology features, the S80 earned the perception as the most exciting saloon released at that time.
Volvo’s platform concept makes it feasible for them to invest in advanced technology research since the platforms work for several models and configurations. Otherwise, developing for a single model would have been prohibitively expensive.
First Generation S80, 1998-2006
The first-generation S80 was not only released with new body styling but also received Volvo's latest platform, the P2. Volvo prides its cars for the safety equipment they offer. Some of these safety features include the third-stage development of the Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) consisting of an inflatable curtain that protects the head and neck in a side-impact situation. Also introduced was the new seat concept Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which provides improved protection from whiplash injuries.
The vehicles featured on-board electronic multiplex system, which used lesser cables and offered increased reliability in handling more electrical functions. Also included in the package was an integrated GSM phone.
The S80 came in several engines. The highest-performing options were the first-ever transverse 6-cylinder engine fitted into a passenger car. The 2.9L petrol base engine produced a rated output of 144 kW and 280 N⋅m, while the T6 had the 2.8L twin-turbo rated at 203kW and 380 N⋅m of torque.
Other engine options were available in different geographical locations. The detuned 2.4L Inline 5-cylinder producing 104 kW with 220 N⋅m of torque and the highly tuned version rated at 125 kW. The detuned version utilised either compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquified petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel.
Also offered were two versions of petrol 2.0L turbocharged engine, with a high-pressure version producing 168kW and a light-pressure version rated at 121 kW. Volvo intended these 2.0L-equipped cars for markets where larger displacement vehicles were taxed heavily. A diesel option, a 2.5L TDI rated at 103kW with 280 N⋅m of torque, was also available.
In 2001, the range increased with the addition of a 2.5L petrol turbocharged engine (155 kW) and two turbocharged common-rail diesel engines. The diesel engines included a 2.4D rated at 96kW and a D5 rated at 120 kW. Depending on the engine options and region, transmissions available were the 4-speed automatic, the 5-speed automatic or the newly developed 5-speed manual.
Second Generation S80, 2006-2016
The second-generation S80 rolled out in the middle of 2006. The S80 embodied Volvo's principle for providing the safest, dynamic and luxurious car, incorporating high technology features. Safety features, besides the SIPS and WHIPS systems, included the dual-stage passenger airbags with kneepads, inflatable curtain, dual-chamber SIPS airbag, three-point seatbelts and seatbelt pre-tensioners and head restraints for all five seats. Braking features included the anti-lock braking system (ABS), fading brake support (FBS) with hydraulic brake assist (HBA), electronic brake distribution (EBD) and the ready alert brakes (RAB).
Due to these numerous advanced safety features, the S80 won the "Top Safety Pick + Award" for 2007-2016 presented by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The highest rating was given for all crashworthiness categories and received an “advanced” rating for standard systems and “superior” for optional systems in the crash avoidance and mitigation category from 2013-2016.
The interior received high-level and detailed treatments, including an electronic air climate control with air quality system and pollen filter and power driver and passenger seats with either textile or leather upholstery depending on the model variant. Except for the base "S" model which received the 6-speaker system, all other options incorporated the 8-speaker audio system. Interior accent trims were brushed aluminium except for the SE Lux model which sported walnut trims.
European designations for the different model trims were the S, SE, SE Sport and SE Lux. Options offered were the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), the Collision Warning with Auto Brake (CWAB), Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and the Lane Departure Warning.
The second-generation S80 was now available with the 4.4L petrol V8 rated at 232 kW and 440 N⋅m of torque built by Yamaha of Japan. Another option was the T6 3.2L petrol inline-6 producing 175kW with 320 N⋅m of torque. Both of these came with the all-wheel-drive (AWD) platform.
Several other petrol engine options were available in different regions. The 2.5T rated at 147 kW was available in 2006. In 2008, the engine choices included the 2.0L naturally-aspirated and 2.0F Flexi-fuel both producing 104 kW. Also available during this time was 2.5T and 2.5FT Flexi-fuel both capable of 147 kW.
From 2010, the T6 AWD was tuned to produce 224 kW. New engines became available, including a 3.2L PZEV in California and an inline-4 turbocharged engine designated as the T4 (134 kW). The V8 was discontinued starting 2010. In selected markets, the T6 AWD came fitted with a turbocharged 3.0L coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Diesel engines also became available, including a 2.4D turbocharged rated at 100 kW and a turbocharged D5 producing 136 kW for either the front-wheel-drive or the AWD versions. In 2008, a turbocharged 2.0D became available in select markets. The same year, the 2.4D was fine-tuned to produce 9 kW more than the previous version.
Volvo introduced a new package in 2010, the S80R, aimed at giving the interior a sportier look. Several interior trim packages also became available beginning in 2011, namely, the Inscription Package, Premier Plus and Platinum trims.
In 2014, the S80 received another update to its front and rear bumpers, grille and lower front fascia. The same model year saw the introduction of the Sensus Connect. Added in the following year were Volvo On-call and Sensus Navigation, an 8-speed Geartronic automatic transmission, and the ECO+ package, which was a technology to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.
A long-wheelbase variant, designated as the S80L, was produced in China starting in 2009. Engine options were either the turbocharged 2.0L or 3.0L. Production ceased in 2015. The S80 was also used to create stretched limousines, ambulances and armoured versions.
Production and sales of the Volvo S80 ceased in 2016 and gave way to the introduction of its successor, the S90 in 2017.
-Jarad