Jury, please be seated... Volvo S80

[Deutsch]

More new S80 pics. Does this car have the right stuff to look the part next to the E-class, 5er, and A6? Don't let brand preception blight your opinions please.

 

[Merc1]

I like it. It has the required thick hood for Euro pedestrian safety regs.

M

 

[Deutsch]

I like it. It has the required thick hood for Euro pedestrian safety regs.

M

The hood sits a little too high, IMO. Such an unfortunate thing to have such unreasonable limitations placed on design. Who's to say that someone isn't heavy enough to cave in on one of these hoods and get killed even if it is designed to resist hard impact? That's a matter for a whole nother discussion though.

 

[Matt]

^ word ^


its got everything but the badge.....styling is a little off as well. Quality and fit and finish looks to be on par

 

[sunnyman12]

man the car looks goofy from the outside but the interior is quite nice

 

[Porsche Guy]

I see it competing nicely with the Infiniti M45 sedan (V8 version) and other equivalent cars around that particular market. It may not be quite as sporty but I still think it would offer better safety or something to distinguish itself in the pack.

 

[Deutsch]

Interesting enough Volvo says this car will bring new customers in that would have never consider a Volvo previously. Yet Acura said the same thing about the latest TL, anyone's guess? Volvo has a solid identity among consumers as being a brand of safe, well equipped, durable cars that are meant to suit all different aspects of life, all the while being enviormentally freindly. "Sporty" isn't a term associated w/ Volvo's, yet. Things could change in the future, there is even talk of a breathed on version of teh Yamaha V8(currently resides in the XC90 and now new S80) for the next "S60 R" < if there is to be such a thing, the current car was almost an invisible product, unless you knew a Volvo nut. They have to be ready to support and cater the enthusiast driver that the P2 car was supposedly meant for.

 

[Matt]

I definitely see some pre bangle BMW in that car. Didnt the head designer of BMW move to Volvo once Bangle took over???

 

[Merc1]

The hood sits a little too high, IMO. Such an unfortunate thing to have such unreasonable limitations placed on design. Who's to say that someone isn't heavy enough to cave in on one of these hoods and get killed even if it is designed to resist hard impact? That's a matter for a whole nother discussion though.

Oh lord yes. At times I think designing a car to better absorb hitting a person out on the road is just plain dumb when the effort should be spent on making places where cars/people meet safer in the first place. I mean if a car is going fast enough you're dead no matter how soft the hood is!!!

I think Mercedes did the best job of intergrating these new regulations on the new S-Class. If you look at the new Lexus LS460 and this Volvo S80 you see this gigantic, thick hoods that nearly (but not quite) ruin the design.

All for the "just in case" I hit a pedestrian? Nonsense IMO. I can see certain things like not having pointy front ends made of chrome or certain restrictions on hood ornaments, but at the rate these regulations are going certain types of cars (front engined sports cars) are going to start looking really ridiculous. Heck at certain speeds you're going to go flying up and over the car anyway. Whats next, soft suspension pieces and breakaway wheels in case the cars runs over a person! Sorry for the rant.

That said, I like this car as I do the new C70. I've always liked Volvos and Saabs (until GM took over) for that matter. The controls in these newer Volvos are so logical and straight forward compared to their German rivals. Volvos have what I've experienced to be the best seats around for comfort without being too mushy.

M

 

[BKK-ES]

What is the point of floating dashboard? Storage? However, it looks nice inside. Tachometer is similar to E-class.

 

[Merc1]

What is the point of floating dashboard? Storage? However, it looks nice inside. Tachometer is similar to E-class.

Swedish style/ergonics I guess. Very different and modern.

M

 

[Mr. M]

This car feels very good, something that would be there to serve you all the time, rain or shine. Interior quality looks good, I love the new gauges when compared to the old ones. I like the stitched leather they have in the doors, as well as having, finally, a V8 option for the S80.

What I don't like is the busy centre console. I still feel there are way too many buttons for it to be simple to use.

 

[LaArtist]

side and rear are superb.. but they screwed up the front..just like they did with the C70

 

[Imhotep Evil]

man the car looks goofy from the outside but the interior is quite nice

My words exactly.

 

[Giannis]

IMO it looks good. nice fresh ans sporty. not as a bmw/audi/mb looks but still nice. it's just what i expected and wanted from volvo. It may not be as good as one of the three germans but i think it can stand in front of them and sell good enough to be a successful model for volvo!

 

[Centurion]

I have to be honest and say that Volvo has done a very good job with the interior, it does look very solid. Additionally they have even decreased their production just so that they could focus more on quality. Unlike the old S80 they want this one to be flawless and with no problems at all. All though the interior is nice the front doesn't look so perfect to me.

 

[audi_rudy]

looking very nice. the interior came out very good probably the best volvo interior and the rear and side of the exterior are just great but im havin alittle trouble with the front . wouldnt choose this over ther german brands though

 

[vabboud]

i have a feeling it looks quite E39ish, same design langauge and philosphy

 

[Deutsch]

This car honeslty looks nothing like the E39 five series... at all.

I read a bunch of the PR documents for the new S80(Volvo released several regarding different aspects of the new car), and I'm very sure that this car will suceed in what it was set out to do. 70% of this cars buyers are to be new to the brand, and w/ that Volvo knows it's saying a lot, and they wouldn't make such a claim unless they knew they could back it up. As for the cars looks, it's very much on point and the design comes off as very original and very Volvo, which I guess some can't swallow? But I am very greatful that this isn't some over-analyzed, contrived piece of engineering that is trying too hard to be one of the Germans. It's not, it's modern Scandinavian design and intergrity at it's best, and those two things are Volvo's hallmarks. New S80 for me please.

 

[Matt]

Very E39ish, look at the B piller and the chrome around the window...The designer of E38, 39, and 46 BMWs is head designer at volvo.