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Posts Tagged ‘S80’

Regardless of the undeniable fact that we are still in the early parts of 2006, there had already been many automobile shows not only in the U.  S.  but in other nations as well that featured the most entertaining and the most promising production automobiles.  These vehicle shows also became the location for automobile manufacturers to show off their tenet vehicles. 

Volvo has made certain that their company wouldn’t be left out when it came to this large showcase of exemplary vehicles.  In the Geneva vehicle Show, the organization’s entry was the 2007 Volvo S80 which is already a production automobile.  The 2007 Volvo S80 is a luxury auto and it essentially competes with the likes of the Audi A6, the Acura RL, the BMW 5 series, and the Lexus ES 350.  While it is already in production, this auto would start to be on sale come Q1 of next year. 

The Detroit Auto Show became the location for Volvo automobiles to show off the Volvo C30 which was introduced as a idea vehicle.  However, the company already is manufacturing this automobile so much so that it’d be available for sale at around the same time as the Volvo S80.  Most likely, this vehicle would be contesting with the Mini Cooper, the Scion xB, the golf GTI, and the Audi A3.  It rambles around looking like a modern sport hot hatch. 

The security features of the 2007 Volvo S80 is still like the standard ones that Volvo equips with autos.  It is an elegant vehicle yet the company claims that it would not be elitist.  Although this car has already been in production since 1999, come 2007, the new version would come with minor upgrades like its new front fascia that appears to have more curves, a sleeker appearance, as well as a sportier aura. 

The Volvo C30 is already set to be introduced as a production automobile in the Paris Motor Show.  This vehicle was basically designed so as to attract and bring in the young and active folk from built up areas.  The security features are still just right for Volvo standards however this new one comes with a sporty touch yet provides a much more trendy appeal. 

Meanwhile, any Volvo car merits excellent maintenance for it to supply its best regarding functionality, performance, and sturdiness.  If there is a need for Volvo parts, there are 2 trusted automobile parts dealers like Volvo Parts and Used Volvo Parts that offers high quality Volvo parts.  Some of the most popular Volvo parts offered include specially crafted Volvo S60 parts, and Volvo S80 parts.

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Let’s make no bones about this; Volvo are never likely to produce a vehicle that will set hearts fluttering with excitement and anticipation. It is virtually impossible to imagine a James Bond film in the not-too-distant future where Q shows 007 to his new gadget-laden Volvo Diesel Estate. It is almost laughable to imagine a Volvo in any cinematic context other than possibly a dire independent Swedish film concerned primarily with the difficulties of livestock farming during Scandinavian winters. The Volvo range has never really appealed to me in a sensory manner; by which I mean I have never been able to picture myself getting excited by one, let alone sitting in one. If you find yourself parting with impressively large sums of money for a vehicle, you want it to enflame your ardour, set your pulse running and maybe even give you a shudder every time you start the engine. It never seemed remotely possible for the Volvo to do this…until they unleashed the Volvo S80.

The Volvo S80 is something quite contrary compared to what I was expecting when tasked with this article; I was expecting something dowdier, less elegant and considerably chunkier. What I was given was an example of aesthetic and engineering perfection.

The Volvo S80, when furnished with the full luxury specification, isn’t a cheap vehicle by any stretch of the imagination. At slightly less than £40,000 if it wasn’t a Very good car it would have to have been carved from Mount Olympus by naked, voluptuous maidens, overseen by Zeus himself. As it stands, it is an extraordinary vehicle that on initial impressions seems to outshine the various competitor models; the Volkswagen Phaeton and the Honda Legend included. There is, however, one competitor that would probably have something to say about this Swedish upstart. I speak of the Jaguar XF.

A fully spec-ed Jaguar XF is around £15,000 more expensive than its Volvo counterpart, which is obviously going to push more people toward the S80, but Jaguars are infinitely cooler and more desirable than any Volvo ever created…and who can put a price on that? The basic model Jaguar XF is a few grand less than the fully spec-ed  S80 and I can’t help but think that because of the social kudos and Jaguar legacy, the buying public are going to gravitate towards the Jag.

The Volvo S80 does make a very good case for itself though. It has one of the most luxurious interiors I have ever had the pleasure of planting my bottom in and all the gadgets James Bond could ever want (barring missile launcher and ejector seat, naturally), including collision detectors, infra-red windscreen and an outstanding stereo system, which outperforms my rather expensive home set-up by a country mile.

The engines are slightly disappointing in comparison to others available in the similar price bracket…and when I say “slightly”, I mean devastatingly. The 2.0 Litre petrol engine does 0-60 in an almost embarrassing 11 seconds, which is completely unacceptable for a car of this price point and potential customer demographic. This car is going to be used by executives who probably have important meetings to attend, deals to seal and the S80’s acceleration will probably hold them up exponentially. Realistically you would expect the 0-60 time to be more than half of what it is. When you finally achieve 60mph, things get better: the engine is smooth, quiet and feels pretty impressive (making it an excellent car choice for extended motorway driving). It’s just a massive disappointment that it takes what feels like a lifetime to get to a respectable speed.

In summary, the Volvo S80 feels and looks like an Executive’s Car, magnificently appointed with all the comfort and equipment to satiate any driver’s whims. What it does lack is the engineering fireworks to match the aesthetic promise.

 I like the Volvo S80, but I wanted to love it.