Volvo S80 Design. A Cut Diamond

6 Feb 2003

Photograph - S80 New Design 1

Photograph - S80 New Design 2

The new Volvo S80 retains its familiar looks – yet not quite.
A number of new design details create an overall impression of a new prestige car in Volvo’s model range.
  "All new parts are like cut diamonds, precious gems. Correctly designed and placed in the appropriate setting, they forge a powerful image of elegance and prestige," says Steve Harper, the person responsible for the design of the new Volvo S80.

The design of the new Volvo S80 is packed with these "gems" – outside and inside alike.

The front has been reworked. The complete front section that surrounds the grille has a new profile with a gentler transition to the body sides and to the spoiler area.

The lower air intake has been re-profiled and features a transverse chrome strip which links together the foglamps. The foglamps themselves are new and have larger light apertures. The grille has a new square mesh pattern in dark silver metallic. The surrounding trim is chromed. This gives an elegant and more three-dimensional impression.

Chrome details in combination with colour-matched mouldings and other details emphasise the car’s design. This applies, for instance, to the chromed door handles and the mouldings below the side windows. The door mirrors have been redesigned to cut air drag and reduce dirt accumulation on the side windows.

Redesigned rear section

The rear of the Volvo S80 has been redesigned for higher quality and more distinct style. The bootlid is now made in one single piece. Above the number plate there is a new handle capped with a chrome trim. The tail lamps are now somewhat smaller. This has been achieved by using brake lamps featuring LED technology, which means the brake lights are activated more quickly. They now make room for a panel between the lights and the bumper, which is accentuated by a slim chrome strip at the bottom of the lights. This panel is painted in the body’s colour. The rear bumper has a more substantial profile. It is colour-matched to the car’s body, with the exception of the dark grey panel at the bottom. This harmonises instead with a corresponding panel along either side of the body.

New door panels

Inside the car, there are new door panels. They enhance the aura of quality, not least since they blend more smoothly with the instrument panel. The front doors have new handles that make it easier to reach and close a wide-open door. Interior trim details such as the centre console and controls are of a richer, darker charcoal colour than before, which also improves the clarity of the control graphics. There is the option of panel inserts in aluminium or wood. The new walnut panels create a distinct refined tone to the whole interior. The ventilation system controls have chromed inlays and the control panel for the power front seats is colour-matched to the rest of the interior. The textile upholstery on the rear hatshelf is of a new quality, of the same type as found in the Volvo XC90. The sun-visors are now covered in the same textile as the inner roof lining.

New instruments

The gauges in the combination instrument have been redesigned. In six-cylinder models, the dials are of the watch-dial type similar to those in the new Volvo S60 R and V70 R, but refined in a unique style to create an elegant and sporty image. The five-cylinder models have a combined instrument of the same type as found in the Volvo XC90, with a thin metal ring surrounding the dials. A new three-spoke wooden sports steering wheel is available as an option on the S80. The steering wheel is of the same type as that fitted to the S60 and V70.

S80 Executive – even more exclusive

The Volvo S80 Executive is the most exclusive Volvo S80 available. Several special features, such as unique leather upholstery and genuine walnut panel inserts, are fitted as standard to make the Volvo S80 Executive a motoring experience out of the ordinary.

With spacious legroom and options such as a refrigerator and a unique Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) system, passengers in the rear seat can enjoy high-class comfort and top-quality entertainment.

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