Volvo S80 2007 News

Volvo Cars Australia has given its refreshed S80 a visual edge by making the company's R-Design package a specific model in the refreshed S80 lineup. The sassy look is just cosmetic at this stage with no engine tuning part of the enhancements.  However, full-blown factory-fitted R-Design engine performance improvements are destined for the S80 and other Volvos and are likely to replace the Heico Sportiv-inspired cars here. Initially the more driver-focused R-Design S80s will get 18-inch wheels, lowered, sports-tuned suspension, colour-matched rear spoiler, matt silver grille and exterior mirrors, and chrome exhausts.  VCA spokesperson, Laurissa Mirabelli, says R-Design is aimed at enthusiasts who now have families. "The luxury sedan segment is also so competitive the S80 needed some differentiation," she says.  C30, V70 and XC90 buyers can already specify the cosmetic R-Design enhancements, which are optional.  Prices for the 2010 S80 remain unchanged, starting at $79,950 for the D5 and twin-turbo T6, topping out at $98,950 for the V8. Adding R-Design to a D5 or T6 costs $1500 extra over the standard car and $2500 more in the V8.  Visually the 2010 changes bring the big sedan inline with the XC60 and new S60, with a new grille and larger Volvo insignia. The D5 gains a new 151kW twin-turbo diesel and adds all-wheel drive as standard, the same as the T6 and V8.  The range-topping V8 adds lane departure warning with driver alert control, blind spot information system, adaptive cruise control with collision warning and auto brake function as standard. Inside there is a new four-spoke steering wheel with deco inlay, more ergonomic switchgear and alloy cabin trim.  Like the XC models, the S80's all-wheel drive system employs a Haldex clutch to distribute power between front and rear wheels according to road and driving conditions. The system can automatically move a small amount of torque to the rear wheels when starting on slippery surfaces.  As with all Volvo's the S80 has a comprehensive active and passive safety features. The car's navigation system is now more user friendly.  Volvo is hoping for a better year with the revised S80 and expects the D5 to be popular.  Last year it sold less than 100 S80s.  The company is hoping that the R-Design will make up 50 per cent of S80 sales this year.

The car brand trumpeted as the world's safest will catch up with the pack next month. Volvo is at last making sure every car it sells in Australia is equipped with ESP and traction control as standard. It has yet to confirm details of the ESP upgrade, including prices, though all Australian cars coming off the production line this month – which means deliveries in June once they are shipped from Sweden – will have the system. “We can confirm that dynamic stability control and traction control will be standard on all Volvo models from May production,” says Laurissa Mirabelli of Volvo Cars Australia. While Volvo is talking up its ESP upgrade, it is also working to finalise details of next year's model line-up after an upgrade last week in Europe. They should be here by October, and the all-new XC60 all-wheel-drive wagon will be the headliner. The most obvious change, on everything from the baby C30 to the C70, is a larger Volvo badge on the boot. It picks up the prominence of the badge on the XC60 and the latest mid-sized wagons. The only other change across the range, though not confirmed for Australia, is exterior mirrors that fold flat for parking. “There will be some minor changes to Volvo's MY09 line-up this year, as there is with its models every year,” Mirabelli says. “The MY09s won't be here until much later this year and we're not in a position to confirm the extent of the changes yet, given we're still going through the business case process.” She says there are only minor tweaks to the range, apart from the XC60, and nothing big on the technical front. In Europe, there are minor tweaks to nine models and one of the best is an optional system called Homelink. It uses buttons integrated into the sun visor to operate remote-controlled home appliances such as garage doors, house alarms and lighting. There is an upgrade of the optional satellite navigation on the S40 and V50, a hard load cover is now standard on all C30s and the climate control is upgraded in the C70 with the addition of the Powershift gearbox already fitted to the C30, S40 and V50. The S80 flagship gets heated washer nozzles and chronograph-style dials in the dash.  

Volvo was first to give us laminated windscreens in 1944, the lap-sash seatbelt in 1959 and the driver's airbag in 1987.It has made safety a priority for many years, often ahead of any legislative requirements to do so.Keeping up its safety push are several innovations making their way into the latest Volvos.Among them are a driver alert control (DAC) system to alert tired and inattentive drivers, a lane departure warning (LDW) system and collision warning system with automatic brake function to help prevent front-to-rear impacts.The new S80 has a collision warning system with brake support, but the auto brake system is the next step.LDW is separate to the blind-spot camera system available as an option on local Volvos.Volvo Cars Australia spokesman Todd Hallenbeck says the company has recently “become extremely focused on safety in the sense of preventive safety."Research figures show 90 per cent of all crashes are the result of drivers being distracted.The DAC system alerts the driver when concentration levels are affected, for example during long journeys. LDW and DAC are part of the same option package, called driver alert system, that was introduced in Europe on the Volvo S80, V70 and XC70 late last year.Volvo Cars Safety Centre director Ingrid Skogsmo says safety is a key philosophy for the company.“When it comes to preventive safety, we have the same approach as when we develop protective systems,” she says.“In other words, Volvo's safety research and technical development focuses on areas where new technology can create significant positive results in real-life traffic.”DAC was developed after studies showed driver fatigue was a major safety issue globally.In 1998, the Monash University Accident Research Centre found between 25 per cent and 35 per cent of fatal crashes in Australia were the result of fatigue. It says the figure could be higher in particular types of crashes, such as fatal single-vehicle semi-trailer crashes.DAC is activated at 65km/h and remains active above 60km/h. A camera, sensors and a control unit monitor driver behaviour, the camera continuously measures the distance between the car and the road lane markings. If for some reason the driver veers off the road, they are alerted via an audible signal.A text message also appears in the car's information display, where a coffee cup symbol alerts the driver to take a break.DAC works in conjunction with LDW, which Volvo believes can prevent between 30 per cent and 40 per cent of single-vehicle crashes between 70km/h and 100km/h.LDW will sound a warning chime if a driver crosses the road markings without a reason.The collision warning with auto-brake function senses an imminent impact and brakes to slow the car when the driver fails to react. 

Reports that Ford has added Volvo to its Premium Automotive Group sell-off, has sent flutters through the Swedish manufacturer's Australian operation.“Officially, it's no comment because we haven't heard anything or received any instruction from Ford or Volvo,” Volvo Australia spokesman Todd Hallenbeck says.“All we know is what has been floated in European media.”Reports from Europe claim Volvo is joining Land Rover and Jaguar on the sale block, as Ford overhauls its business to stem record losses.As the flagship of Ford's Premier Automotive Group (PAG) business, and the most likely to turn a profit, Volvo is considered unlikely to be sold but reports have priced the company at $US8 billion ($9.73 billion).“The worrying thing about these reports, even if they are speculation, is that it doesn't do a lot for brand confidence,” Hallenbeck says.The disappointing aspect of the reports is that they come when Volvo internationally and in Australia is on an upward curve, he says.“The relationship between Volvo and Ford has always been very strong. It has always been a money earner for them ... Ford has invested the money for us to develop the C30, the new C70, the S80. They have given us the real foothold to develop a new model range."“There is a lot of speculation and a lot of people are saying that Volvo may be the only brand (within PAG) that has a value ... but it is all just speculation.”Hallenbeck points to global sales and a local operation that is fast putting the dark days of 2002-03 behind.“We couldn't be more happy with the way things are going,” Hallenbeck says. “To the end of June we were up 24 per cent on the previous year and that was up 37 per cent over '05.“To last week we have sold more than 2900 cars, more than for the entire year in 2003. We have a lot of momentum, the dealers are incredibly happy and everybody is smiling.”One of the driving forces behind Volvo's resurgence has been the refreshing of its entire model range.“When the XC70 launches there will not be a model in the range that is more than three years old,” Hallenbeck says.Ford, which sold Aston Martin for $US450 million ($516 million)last year, has valued Volvo at 25 per cent more than the $US6.5 billion ($7.45 billion) it paid in 1999.The official line from Ford is that it is not in discussion with any companies regarding a sale of Volvo, but added that it is continuing to assess all of its options for the business.Jaguar and Land Rover have already attracted interest from a range of potential buyers, with Ford confirming it has received approaches from a number of parties.The group says it is “aggressively evaluating that level of interest” and is thought to have set a deadline for initial bids this week, although it is still to officially announce its decision to sell the brands.Private equity group 3i is one of those considering bidding for Jaguar and for Land Rover, according to the Mail On Sunday. Other private equity firms understood to be in the running include Cerberus and One Equity Partners.Ford launched a review of the PAG business after the overall Ford group posted losses of $US12.7 billion ($14.56 billion) last year, the largest deficit in its 103-year history.PAG almost trebled its pre-tax losses last year, from $US89 million ($102 million) in 2005 to $US327 million ($375 million).Pre-tax profits at the division improved in the first three months of this year, at $US191 million ($219 million) against $US129 million ($148 million) for first quarter in 2006. 

The company now has MP3 CD compatibility standard across its range, plus auxiliary inputs for MP3 players and even USB connection in some models.The first company in Australia to offer MP3-compatible CD players throughout their range was Hyundai in 2004. That means users have to burn MP3s on to CDs.However, most people now use portable MP3 players, rather than CDs.Some models in some brands offer full compatibility for iPod with track and volume selection through the car's sound system, but this means that users with other brands of MP3 players are not included.Rather than isolating some users, the easiest option is an auxiliary input jack or USB port for MP3 player connection.Users still have to select tracks on the player, but the volume is adjustable through the car's sound system and you don't have to burn CDs.Volvo Car Australia public affairs manager Todd Hallenbeck said Volvo had MP3 CD compatibility right across its range as a standard feature, but now had auxiliary ports with their high performance and premium sound systems.These are standard on all models, except S40 S, S40 D5, V50 S, V50 D5 and the coming C30 S.All XC90 models now have an auxiliary input in the centre console. Plus the XC90 has the rear audio jacks for second and third-row passengers which allows them to listen to radio, CD or MP3 independent of the front seats.All S80 models have a centre console input standard and a USB port available as an accessory.V50, C30, S40 and C70 models have the input discreetly located behind the elegant floating console with a rubber-bottomed tray so the iPod or MP3 player won't get scratched or slide around as the car is driven.However, it makes it a bit difficult for the driver to change tracks on the player.The next XC70 model will have an aux port for MP3 with a USB port as an accessory.

Sales of the S80 had been declining sharply over the past couple of years from a peak of 364 in 1999 - the first full year of sales - to a paltry 44 last year before the decision was made to hold the car back until the new model was available. Volvo Australia spokesman Todd Hallenbeck says the ability to launch the revised S80 with a proven V8 engine - the Yamaha-sourced 4.4-litre unit from the top-selling XC90 - and a well-sorted six-speed automatic gives the car a new relevance to buyers here. "We are not expecting to sell huge numbers but around 500 a year is a nice target. At $95,950 for the V8 it sits well against other luxury V8 sedans," Hallenbeck says. The transverse alloy 4.4-litre V8 in the new S80 is the same 232kW and 440Nm unit used successfully in the XC90. For the V8 model, AWD will come standard. Also available will be Volvo's well-tested 2.4-litre five-cylinder TDi with 136kW and 400Nm priced at a sharp $71,960 and expected to account for a majority of sales after an initial rush for the V8. A 3.2-litre in-line six is also available but Volvo Australia will wait and add it to the mix next year. Designed by Peter Horbury, the S80 retains most of the major design cues of the original car - prominent rear hips, upright Volvo grille and boat shape outline from above. However, there are more differences than similarities. The new S80 looks much tauter than its predecessor, with a more integrated roof profile, larger wheel arches filled by 19-inch wheels and the general impression of being a more compact car, despite actually growing slightly. Inside, the S80 borders on Swedish minimalism. There is the floating centre console from the S40 and V50, a tasteful brushed aluminium trim, clear instrumentation with Volvo's patented easy-to-use knobs and ergonomic seats. While it all works fairly well, there is little that will set the emotions bubbling. The main instruments are analog, with needles pointing to the perimeter and digital messages at the centre. Most functions are controlled via buttons, a four-way switch pad, and a small screen on the centre console. The screen for the optional navigation system pops up at eye level from the top of the dash. The end result is impressive, polished by the inclusion of some fairly sophisticated electronic wizardry in the Four-C chassis active damping technology -- standard fare on the V8 for Australia. The comfort setting is likely to be a little soft for most Australian applications, with sport the favourite for day-to-day running. A further tightening of the parameters is available with the advanced option which will tie-down body-roll and sharpen damper response to a degree that outstrips the S80's slightly disappointing steering. Although it is not actually vague, the steering feedback is sluggish and under pressure can feel a little dissociated from the action. But the chassis performance is crisp and the road-holding impressive.

Sales of the S80 had been declining sharply over the past couple of years from a peak of 364 in 1999 - the first full year of sales - to a paltry 44 last year before the decision was made to hold the car back until the new model was available. Volvo Australia’s Todd Hallenbeck says the ability to launch the revised S80 with a proven V8 and a well-sorted six-speed automatic gives the car a new relevance to Australian buyers. "We are not expecting to sell huge numbers but around 500 a year is a nice target. At $95,950 for the V8 it sits well against other luxury V8 sedans and we believe it will attract a good degree of interest." The transverse alloy 4.4-litre V8 in the new S80 is the same 232kW and 440Nm Yamaha unit used successfully in the XC90. For the V8 model, AWD will come standard. Also available will be Volvo's well-tested 2.4-litre five-cylinder TDi with 136kW and 400Nm priced at a sharp $71,960 and expected to account for a majority of sales after an initial rush for the V8. The new S80 looks much tauter than its predecessor with a more integrated roof profile, larger wheel arches filled by larger 19-inch wheels and the general impression of being a more compact car despite actually growing slightly. And while the new car looks similar to the original, Volvo can genuinely claim that it is an all-new model sitting on a brand-new platform cobbled together from the best of the C1 componentry (that's S40, V50, S60 and C70 - along with a little bit of Ford Focus and Mazda3) and Ford's new global mid-sized architecture. The luxury status of the S80 has been polished by the inclusion of some fairly sophisticated electronic wizardry in the Four-C chassis active damping technology - standard fare on the V8 for Australia. The comfort setting is likely to be a little soft for most Australian applications with sport the favourite for day-to-day running. A further tightening of the parameters is available with the advanced option which will tie-down body-roll and sharpen damper response to a degree that outstrips the S80's slightly disappointing steering. In keeping with its logical competition - Audi's A6, the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class - Volvo has worked in a variety of electronic extras, most of which will be options. There is a radar-based active cruise control that produces audible and visual warnings of a possible collision and works with brake assist when the driver takes evasive action; BLIS, a blind-spot warning system using tiny cameras built into the side mirrors; and PCC, an electronic key fob that can monitor the cars locking and alarm status and even detect the heartbeat of an intruder inside the car.

It is, in its way, the best show for ages, with a quotient of concept vehicles and exotica balanced by real world stuff you'd actually consider buying.Highlights?It's hard to walk past Audi's R8, a fully-fledged supercar likely to come in with a "bargain" tag of substantially less than $300,000. Next to it is the second generation Audi TT, mightily improved and not screamingly unaffordable from $68,500 the entry model and about $20K more for its 3.2 V6 quattro sibling. We drove both of these through the Austrian Alps in June 2006, and will hazard the guess that Audi will struggle to meet demand for this superbly executed coupe.And, just for show, is a model of the R10 – the amazing V12 diesel that took first and third at this year's Le Mans.The great thing about concept cars is that they needn't conform to such tiresome criteria as Australian Design Rules - hence the lack of an A pillar on Saab's Aero Concept X. The lack of any pillars for that matter. Slightly more tangible is the 9-5 bio ethanol-powered wagon - a car to gladden the hearts of sugar cane growers.Lotus has revived an iconic brand name with the Europa S, a car that should affirm two-seater motoring can still be an unadulterated and largely unconstrained experience. When the product of mainstream manufacturers seems to keep getting fatter, like a choc-addicted neurotic, the mere existence of Lotus serves to remind us of (hard) core driving verities.Mazda's Kabura sports compact - with its cute 3+1 seating arrangement - is a concept from which the theme and shape of Mazdas to come can be divined. Ditto Honda's Sports 4 Concept for that marque. Or so we hope. While Honda's SH-AWD system is damn clever, it'd be neat to see it attached to something a little more athletic than the globulous Legend.A few metres away from the Kabura is the CX-7 - the crossover SUV with much of the Mazda 6 MPS's drivetrain - which you'll be seeing on our streets soon. It's one of two vehicles that perfectly defines what marketing types like to call the "zeitgeist" of the Australian buyer at the moment.The other, you may or may not choose to believe, is a Volvo. The S80 all-wheel-drive V8 luxury sedan might be the Swedish marque's new hero model, but their decidedly groovy 2+2, the C30, could be the car that finally puts paid to those ancient "bloody Volvo driver" cliches.It also points firmly in the direction that Australian private buyers are going ie: those of us not enamoured of soft road SUVs are downsizing but up-speccing.And speaking of good things in small packages, those who have queued long for the Volkswagen Golf GTI will be delighted to see that not only is demand being addressed, but the new to Australia three door-model starts $1500 under the five door at $38,490. VeeWee's highly desirable Eos CC, the big drawer at last year's Frankfurt motor show, finally made its Australian debut ahead of its release early in 2007.And yes, that's a turbo diesel variant you see parked near the turbo petrol. If diesel seems anomalous in a (part-time) open top car, it works.Given the mudslide of Holden hype this year, it comes almost as relief not to see some lurid concept jobbie from them for once, although unveiling the Hummer H3 did at least provide comic relief.With the pomp and circumstance we've come to expect from Holden on the opening day of the show, the covers were hauled off to anything but the reception they've come to expect.Far from the rapturous and somewhat sycophantic applause that greeted their Torana and Efijy creations, there was … well, the sound of no hands clapping. In fact, the silence that greeted this spectacularly pointless and ugly apparition could best be described as stoney.Nissan's Foria is a concept car we’d very much like to see come into fruition. Apart form the corporate grille, this is an elegant Lancia-like coupe intended as an MX-5-like alternative.