Goes into 2000 with new advances in safety, control and environmental care
With the S80 2.9 litre and T6 Volvo enjoying world wide success, Volvo has established itself as a serious contender in the upper luxury sector of the market.
This was confirmed when the S80 won the Pan Europe Design Award organised by Designers (Europe). 500 professional designers from 33 countries took part in the vote.
"The Volvo S80 has been more successful in synthesising the past and the future than any other car… It integrates the typical Volvo design features, such as a classic grille and large
headlights and, at the same time, provides a new concept of a prestigious four door sedan," said Designers (Europe).
"The S80 has taken Volvo into a market sector where we have never seriously competed before," says Jan Eriksson, managing director, Volvo Car Australia. "Since its introduction it has enjoyed a
tremendous reception around the world and demand has exceeded all expectations. It is Volvo's flagship and we are very proud of it"
Advances in safety and control
The new optional Direction Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) helps keep the S80 stable and on course, no matter how treacherous the conditions.
With DSTC, sensors monitor the speeds of all four wheels. A gyro detects changes of car attitude. At the slightest sign of wheelspin or slippage, the system intervenes to correct the car's
behaviour by braking the appropriate wheels to restore grip and help the car regain its correct course.
Greater driving satisfaction
The Geartronic transmission, which gives the choice of automatic shifting or manual override, is standard on the T-6 and optional on 2.9 variants of the S80. It has been widely acclaimed as one
of the S80 T-6's most attractive features. It gives the driver overriding manual control and greatly adds to the pleasure and sense of control when driving the S80.
Caring for the environment
In early 2000 the "ozone eating" radiator will be introduced in the S80. The ozone-eating radiator has been developed in co-operation with the Engelhard Corporation.
The radiator matrix is treated with a catalytic coating called Premair. It is composed of non-precious metals. With the ram effect of air passing through the Premair coated radiator, up to 75% of
the ozone (O3) which comes in contact with the surface of the radiator is converted to oxygen (O2).
This will have a beneficial effect on the environment. Allowing for such variables as the level of ozone present in the airflow, speed and temperatures, between 45 and 75% of the ozone passing
through the core of the radiator is reduced to oxygen.
An S80 equipped with this new Premair coated radiator will literally clean the air as it passes through it.
Prices take GST into account
In view of the basically unchanged specification of the S80 Series, there has been no increase in the price structure and the full reductions resulting from GST continue.
APPENDIX 1
International awards won by the Volvo S80 since its 1998 introduction Overall
excellence
|
USA
|
1999 Drivers' Choice Award
Best Luxury Car
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Motorweek magazine
|
|
Finland
|
Car of the Year 1999
|
Tuulusi Motor Magazine
|
|
Europe
|
1999 European Automotive Design Award
|
Designers (Europe)
|
|
Australia
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NRMA 1998 Luxury Car of the Year
|
NRMA
|
|
Canada
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Best new Prestige Car 1999
|
Automotive Journalists of Canada
|
|
Japan
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Outstanding Import of Year
2nd in 1st Luxury class
|
RCT
|
|
Germany
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Second best car in upper price class
|
Bild am Sonntag
|
|
Russia
|
Grand Prix for best car at Moscow International Motor Show (5th time)
|
Za Rulen
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Style and Elegance
|
USA
|
Automotive Interior Design Award. Best Luxury interior
|
Inside Automotives International
|
|
Japan
|
Good Design Award
|
MITI (Ministry of Trade and industry)
|
|
Italy
|
'The Most Beautiful Car in the World
Best design and build quality
|
Automobilia ( an organisation and magazine)
|
Safety
|
Canada
|
Award for WHIPS
|
ICBC
|
|
Hong Kong
|
Technologies of the Year Award 1998 WHIPS
|
Car and Driver Magazine
|
|
Great Britain
|
Inflatable Side Curtain
|
Prince Michael Road Safety Award
|
|
Germany
|
Winner in test for dipped beam and full beam
|
Autobild
|
|
Sweden
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'Klok bil"(Smart Car) for WHIPS
|
Riksforbundet for trafik och Polioskadade (RTP)
|
Technology
|
Hong Kong
|
Technologies of the Year Award 1998 Multiplex
|
Car & Driver Magazine
|
|
USA
|
S80 on list of Readers' Choice: Top 15 Technological Innovations of the Year
|
Automotive Engineering Journal
|
APPENDIX 2
SPECIFICATIONS
VOLVO S80
|
|
2.9 litre
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T6
|
|
Engine
|
|
|
|
Location
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Front, transverse
|
Front, transverse
|
|
Cylinders
|
In–line 6
|
In–line 6
|
|
Bore/stroke
|
83x90 mm
|
81x90 mm
|
|
Capacity
|
2,922 cc
|
2,783 cc
|
|
Valves
|
24, belt- driven DOHC
|
24, belt- driven DOHC
|
|
Induction
|
Naturally aspirated
|
Twin parallel turbochargers
|
|
Fuel
|
Microprocessor controlled, self adjusting fuel and ignition system with knock regulation and diagnostic system.
|
Microprocessor controlled, self adjusting fuel and ignition system with knock regulation and diagnostic system.
|
|
Octane
|
95 RON unleaded (Min 91 RON unleaded)
|
95 RON unleaded (Min 91 RON unleaded)
|
|
Comp ratio
|
10.7:1
|
8.7:1
|
|
Power
|
150- kW @ 6,000 rpm
|
200 kW @ 5,400 rpm
|
|
Torque
|
280 Nm @ 4200 rpm
|
380 Nm @ 2,000-5,000 rpm
|
|
Transmission
|
|
|
|
Automatic
|
4-speed adaptive with Winter mode
Optional: Geartronic with manual shift mode, viscous coupling.
|
Geartronic with manual shift mode, viscous coupling
|
|
Suspension
|
|
|
|
Front
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Macpherson struts, coil springs, telescopic dampers and anti-sway bar.
|
Macpherson struts, coil springs, telescopic dampers and anti-sway bar.
|
|
Rear
|
Multi-links with coil prings, telescopic dampers and anti-sway bar
|
Multi-links with coil prings, telescopic dampers and anti-sway bar
|
|
Wheels
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7 x16" alloy
|
7 x16" alloy
|
|
Spare wheel
|
Alloy
|
Alloy
|
|
Tyres
|
215/55 R16W steel belted radials
|
225/55 R16W steel belted radials
|
|
Brakes – power assisted
|
|
|
Front
|
Ventilated discs
|
Ventilated discs
|
|
Rear
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Solid discs
|
Solid discs
|
|
ABS
|
Standard
|
Standard
|
|
Steering
|
|
|
|
System
|
Power assisted rack and pinion, speed sensitive
|
Power assisted rack and pinion, speed sensitive
|
|
Turns lock to lock
|
3
|
3
|
|
Turning circle
|
10.9 m
|
10.9 m
|
|
Fuel tank
|
|
|
|
Capacity
|
80 litres
|
80 litres
|
|
Kerb Mass
|
1637 kg
|
1675
|
For further information or a Black and White print, please contact:
Graeme Adam
Public Affairs Manager
Volvo Car Australia
Phone: (02) 9903 9217
Mobile: 0412 259 635
Email : imp.vaplga@memo.volvo.se