Volvo S80 is First Produced

The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo and was introduced in 1998 as a replacement for the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 sedan. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant (Torslandaverken) in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most 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. This is a part of a major product overhaul at Volvo, including a most luxurious large estate and sedan.
The first generation was notable for being one of the first Volvos to depart from the company's traditionally boxy, conservative styling. The S80's styling, with its pronounced beltlines and tail lights that narrow and go from curves to points as they go up, was later adopted throughout the Volvo line, especially on the S60 and S40 sedans.
The Volvo S80 engines have developed a reputation for reliability and excellent performance, proving a match for BMW, Mercedes Benz and other comparable executive car manufacturers.

The first generation Volvo S80 had one of the highest crash test ratings in the world for five years. The second generation Volvo S80 in June 2007 scored the highest "good" rating in the IIHS crash test performance for frontal, side, and rear impacts, continuing in the success of the first S80 sedan, earning it the IIHS Top Safety Pick. The second generation S80 is better engineered than the previous model, in part due to a stiffer more rigid chassis.

The generation S80is based on the Ford D3 platform. More than 368,000 first generation S80s were built before the introduction of the new model. The all-new S80's styling, with its pronounced beltlines and tail lights that narrow and go from curves to points as they go up, is often jokingly referred to as "In S80, S stands for Sexy".
This S80 sedan being Volvo's flagship model was heavily equipped with numerous safety systems to ensure all occupants safety, including SIPS and WHIPS.
The S80 has three firsts for passenger cars. The first was the use of a built-in, fully integrated GSM phone, complete with both a hands free function and a lift-up hand-set. The second was the fitment of the straight six engine in a transverse mounting. Volvo claims to be the first manufacturer to succeed in mass producing this configuration "in modern time", although this is quite false, since British Leyland produced passenger cars using the E6 engine from 1970 to 1981 in cars such as the Austin Kimberley and Austin Princess. No existing manual gearbox would fit in the engine bay with the six cylinder engine, so Volvo had to develop their own, claimed to be the world's smallest manual gearbox, the M65. The previous record holder was also a Volvo gearbox, the M56 developed to fit the wide 5 cylinder transverse engine first used in the 850 series cars. Thirdly, the S80 was the world's first car with an environmental specification, covering aspects such as those directly relating to the car such as allergens from textiles and fuel economy and the life cycle of the car from production to dismantling.
For Volvo, the S80 was a major step forward into the age of modern car design, particularly with the use of multiplex wiring. It is said that the S80 has more than 40 onboard computers, with at least one in every door. A popular expression says there's more electronics in the S80 than in the F15 fighter.
The S80 was initially available with four different engines. Starting the range was a detuned 2.4-litre 140 hp 5-cylinder. This was also available as a CNG and as an LPG version. The fully tuned version produced 170 PS (125 kW). Next up was a 2.9 L 196 PS (144 kW) 6-cylinder, then 272 PS (200 kW) T6 and finally, the 140 PS (102 kW) 2.5 L TDI (diesel). 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. Late 2001 introduced the 163 PS (120 kW) 5 cylinder common rail diesel D5, detuned to 130 PS (96 kW) and sold as 2.4D in some markets. In some European countries the entry level S80 came with a 2.0 litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 182 PS. These were sold in countries where larger capacity engines were penalized by heavy taxes. Minor exterior design changes occurred between 2003 and 2004 versions, notably front grille styling (in pre-2004 version (pictured above), it has vertical metallic pattern - herited from 960 series - , while in 2004 (pictured right) a gray plastic brick-wall pattern was introduced).

On January 31, 2006, Volvo released the first pictures of the second generation S80 and the car was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on February 28, with sales beginning in June 2006. Generally all features of the car were upgraded substantially. The new S80 features 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 saloon model to become available with Volvo's compact, transversely fitted V8 with a power output of 315 PS (232 kW; 311 hp) and 440 N·m (320 lb·ft) of torque developed jointly by Volvo Cars engine unit Skövde and Yamaha but built by Yamaha of Japan. 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.
This second generation S80 is no exception to Volvo's on going improvements and inventions of safety. The second generation S80 has been given 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 outstandingly above its German and Japanese rivals. Scores were perfect for frontal, side, and rear impacts. The new S80 is based on the Ford EUCD platform (called P24 by Volvo), also used for vehicles including Ford's S-MAX, Mondeo and Galaxy large MPVs. Some of these Ford vehicles, whilst sharing this platform, and some parts, are distincly different from each other as they compete in different auto market segments. Volvo vehicles on this platform tend to use more high tech parts and more expensive underpinnings.
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's higher specification cars, nearly two years after Volvo. The second generation Volvo S80 is much more luxurious than the previous generation, and it flaunts its "Scandinavian Luxury" design language. The second generation S80 has already won awards in best mid size luxury sedan interior.

New features include a choice of 5-cylinder 2.4L D5 twin turbo diesel, 2.4L diesel, or 1.6L diesel engine. Also the 2.5T and 2.5FT were modified to produce more power and have a lower fuel consumption. The car's exterior was modified to give the S80 a lower, longer and wider stance. More chrome trim were added to the front, the rear end the doors to look like the S80 Executive. 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 S80 will be available with a S80 R-design interior package to give the inside a sportier look. The interior package contains a new sports steering wheel, sports pedals, Dynamic leather seats, sports gearshift knob and a new combi instrument with blue background.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_S80