2007 Volvo S80 Preview

Every car brand has its flagship, and for Volvo that would be the S80 sedan. Though larger than the other models in the lineup, this five-passenger ride has never measured up well against its competitors, namely the Acura RL offering 290-horsepower RL, the Infiniti M offering up to 335 horses, and the updated GS 300 and GS 430 from Lexus. Each leaves the 208-horsepower 2006 Volvo S80 in its dust, and presents shoppers with modern engineering that doesn’t date to the late 1990s. For 2007, Volvo fights back with an update of its biggest car, adding smooth new bodywork, a revised interior, and two new engines, one of which is a V8 pushing 315 horsepower, to a vehicle that is already known for its focus on safety. Volvo will start offering the 2007 S80 in June 2006. Pricing has not been announced.

Why it matters

Volvo is a company on a mission, one that is intent on beating its own drums to make car shoppers realize that the sleek and sexy sedans, wagons, convertibles, and SUVs they see cruising down the highways are indeed Volvo models, that the only tie to the past is the brand’s focus on safety and its Scandinavian heritage. Now it’s time for buyers to consider competitive performance as a reason to purchase. After the 2007 Volvo S80 goes on sale later this year, company officials are estimating that annual production will ramp up to 50,000 units, with nearly 70 percent of total S80 sales to buyers new to the Volvo brand.

What’s under the hood

Two engines will be offered on the 2007 Volvo S80, though a third, a 185-horsepower turbo diesel, will be deployed for overseas markets. Here at home, the options consist of a Yamaha-built V8 that produces 315 horsepower or an all-new 3.2-liter six-cylinder power plant offering 238 horsepower.

What’s inside

Styling changes made to the 2007 Volvo S80 go past the svelte exterior to an all-new interior. The center instrument panel is similar to the thin unit first used in the entry-level S40 sedan, with the same control layout for the climate control system and the radio. Steering wheel controls are included, but they’ve been relocated on this updated model, and the dash has been tweaked but carries a similar shape to that of the 2006 model.

What we think

Like Acura with its 2004 RL, Volvo’s 2006 S80 flagship is in major need of a redesign. Competitors, new and old, have relegated the Scandinavians to the back of the premium/luxury segment. With an attractive and contemporary design, inside and out, coupled with two noteworthy engines, the 2007 Volvo S80 should lead shoppers to consider this sedan as more than a safe librarian’s car. If it’s priced right and handles as well as the smaller S40, a spike in sales might not be too far off.

Photos courtesy of Volvo