Jury, please be seated... Volvo S80

[Deutsch]

I really honestly and truly do not see any E39 in this car whatsoever. But hey, that's me.

 

[Matt]

My similarity analysis. More when I get more time. Ugly, I know, but i wanted to get a side profile.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

I hate this car because it's dull: the interior is 80's style ( even with that stupid floating console) the exterior is just old volvo with Audi headlights and nose and some CLS rear-lights. I'll never ever like it

 

[Snake Vargas]

I quite like it. It's not in-your-face innovative or exciting as such, but sleek and elegant. The profile looks a bit odd due to the highish boot and the low grille (and IMO to a lesser extent the bulging bonnet that people have been making remarks about). I like it as an improvement and logical step in extending the Volvo design language.

As for the interior, I'm not sure about the hump-hooded instruments, but the rest is quite nice. Sure, the floating panel for controls isn't such an amazing technical marvel, and you can't store a whole lot there anyhow (was looking at V50 the other day, apparently you can buy an optional accessory plastic cubby with rubber liner to store small objects there). But IMO it does wonders for the 'feel' of the cabin - it makes it an airier, more welcoming place. It's like the difference between a light coloured headlining and dark coloured one - big difference.

 

[GTA45E]

I like the concept Volvo used when designing the interior. It does indeed have the feel of ultra modern Scandinavian furnature. It`s very clean, elegant and unique. However the switchgear has an outdated feel. Large bottons were a big hit in the 1990s because thay were easy to see. If Volve used a more integrated switchgear thay would have nailed it with the dash design. The bottons are so large thay didn`t leave room for a NAV screen.
Thay had to place it on top of the dash!

 

[Michael]

The lights in the front remind me to much of a saab for some reason. Other than that I think it is great!

 

[MikeJ]

The bottons are so large thay didn`t leave room for a NAV screen. Thay had to place it on top of the dash!

It being a Volvo, I'm quite sure that's called a safety feature. After all, you don't have to look down to see the screen.
The big buttons are great, they're easy to operate when wearing thick gloves, something which is very important in some of Volvo's biggest markets.

 

[Snake Vargas]

I like large buttons. It makes them easier to feel without looking down. Same with the Nav screen - I reckon on top of the dash is the best place for it, or at least up so that it's level with the instrumentation. It might seem odd, but when driving, it doesn't stick up into your sight line, and indeed makes for the least movement of your eyes.

I'm beginning to like the interior more and more. I quite like Volvo's steering wheels (though they're all largely the same design). Looks simple and elegant, and comfortable to use.

 

[Giannis]

I like large buttons, too! trust me, volvo is one of the best when it comes to buttons. the most used buttons are placed exactly where they should be and are big enough that you can use it without need to take your eyes on the road. for example in my s60 is very easy to adjust the volume when driving and having your right hand on the shift knob. you just make a small move or if you have your hand on the steering wheel, you just use the buttons there

 

[GTA45E]

Overall the interior is a hit to me. The body design could have been better though. Some proportions look too bloated and out of place. Except for the headlights I don`t like the body style.

 

[Deutsch]

It's great to like and dislike this quality in a car, but it's wiset to reserve judgement until face to face first impressions. Here is a tid bit about the hood design from one of many P..R. documents released for the new S80:

The bonnet too has more emphasised curvature and a higher profile to provide added pedestrian protection.

Protection for other road users

Protection for pedestrians and cyclists has also been developed in the all new Volvo S80. The front has energy-absorbing features, including a well-proportioned, soft structure in front of the bumper. This helps to counteract the risk of leg injuries. In addition, the lower edge of the spoiler has been reinforced and moved forward, almost in line with the bumper. The aim is for the load, on a leg for example, to be distributed evenly over a greater area to reduce the risk of injury.

The bonnet has a raised shape and underneath a honeycomb structure that distributes the load in a similar way on impact and in doing so contributes to absorbing the force and reducing the risk of injury.

Nothing that we don't already know. This car, along w/ the new Jag XK is the first of many new cars to be effected by the ENCAP's pedestrican safety legislation that has been passed and is now being imposed upon all car makers selling cars in Europe. So be aware that while this design may be unique to the S80 and XK, it will make its' way round to many many other cars, including your fav's. So be careful when flaming this car for what you may precieve to be a "design flaw".