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2006 Volvo S80 news, pictures, and information

Volvo's flagship S80 sedan focuses on luxury for 2006 via a simplified model lineup. The range now comprises the S80 2.5T and the S80 2.5T AWD. The previous T6 and T6 Premier variants have been discontinued. Meanwhile, the list of standard equipment for the 2.5T and 2.5T AWD has been greatly enhanced. For example, the former Premium and Sport option packages are now standard.

Thus, the S80 2.5T and 2.5T AWD are fitted wîth standard leather seating surfaces, power glass moonroof, real wood inlays, a wood-trimmed §teering wheel and power passenger's seat. Also included are standard T6 style front and rear sport seats, 17-inch 'Senator' alloy wheels and the more upscale 'watch dial' instrumentation.

Feature content for the optional Convenience Package expands wîth a new sunglass holder, rear park assist and laminated side windows. New stand-alone options for the S80 2.5T and 2.5T AWD include 18-inch 'Capella' wheels and chrome-finish 17-inch 'Stentor' wheels. Willow Green is a new color that replaces the former Platinum Green and Crystal Green.

New All-Wheel Drive wîth Instant Traction™ is standard on the S80 2.5T AWD. It mates wîth the S80's 2.5-liter turbocharged engine for positive, instantaneous torque and optimum launch performance. The improved, computer controlled Haldex all-wheel-drive system instantly delivers up to 50 percent more torque to the rear axle only when needed, such as during takeoff.

Prior to Instant Traction, if the AWD system sensed that the front drive wheels were losing traction – such as on a slippery road – one-seventh of a wheel rotation occurred before it began redirecting torque to the wheels that have traction. This fraction of a rotation could influence performance under certain conditions. Instant Traction adds a one-way pre-charging valve to the AWD system that maintains an instantly available torque load of 59 foot-pounds. Torque can be transferred directly, without any speed difference. As before, there is no need for the driver to worry about engaging the system. It's all done automatically and seamlessly.

The 2006 Volvo S80 sedan features an array of best-in-class safety innovations, including driver and front passenger dual-stage Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbags, which work in harmony wîth the vehicle's three-point seatbelts wîth pyrotechnic pretensioners. Additional safety features include standard Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) wîth side airbags and Inflatable Curtain (IC), Whiplash Protection Seating System (WHIPS), seat belts wîth pyrotechnic pretensioners in all seating positions, plus Volvo's safety cage construction. These major features and myriad occupant safety details have made the S80 an standard for occupant protection.

The Volvo S80 received a Five Star/Five Star crash test rating from Ú.S. government agencies and a 'Best Pick' designation by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The S80 has won acclaim and contributed new designs and new technologies to the Volvo safety repertoire.

Source - Volvo Cars
Introduced in the spring of 1998, the S80 was Volvo's large new premium sedan and which eventually became one of Volvo's most important design symbols over the years. Retiring the rear-rive S90 in 1999, the newly released front-wheel drive S80 was remade into the new flagship luxury sedan for Volvo. Sharing the same Volvo P2 platform as the V70, S60, XC90 and XC70, the S80 was never produced in wagon form.

With immediately recognizable large wave-shaped tail lamps, and a much more curvaceous design, and a windscreen and rear screen with pronounced curvature. The pronounced haunches and the V-shaped bonnet became classic Volvo features that have been further enhanced in this model.

The sedan also featured generous comfortable space for five passengers. The Volvo S80 was also fitted with a unique powertrain that featured a transversely installed six-cylinder in-line engine. Newly advanced safety features were also introduced in this model which included built-in protection against neck injuries and inflatable curtains. Other safety enhancements included crumple zones, front passenger airbags, and Volvo's WHIPS system, which was designed to slide the front seatbacks an headrests rearward to minimize whiplash in the event of a rear-end collision.

Rather than the strict straight lines of previous Volvo's interiors, the S80 instead incorporated rounded shapes along with smooth, flowing transitions. The front passenger seat backrests were also able to be folded flat, while the rear seat split-folds.

Producing 201 horsepower, the base sedan carried a 2.9-liter engine, while the sportier T6 model received a twin-turbocharged 2.8 liter, 268 horsepower engine. Many features were standard in the S80, and these included tilt/telescoping leather wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone a/c, cruise control, and eight-way power front bucket seats that came with driver memory. 16-inch alloy wheels, power locks and windows, heated power mirrors, keyless entry and a cassette/CD player were also all standard equipment in the Volvo S80.

The exclusive S80 Executive was the top model in the range, and featured equipment and comfort that was of a truly exceptional standard.

During its first year in production, the Volvo S80 had already collected numerous awards, including the Prince Michael Road Safety Award for the Inflatable curtain. Italian motoring organization and magazine Automobilia proclaimed the Volvo S80 as the 'the Most Beautiful Car in the World'. Developed without being limited by the specific demands that are usually involved in manufacturing a saloon and an estate on the same basic platform, the S80 was definitely unique. A total of 21,800 units were produced and sold during the Volvo S80's first year of production. Production was undergone at the Volvo Cars Torslanda factory in Göteborg, Sweden.

In 1999 many new variants of the S80 were introduced. These included the T6 which had a six-cylinder 2.8 liter engine that delivered 272 bhp, the 280 2.9 which was had a 2.9 liter engine that was rated at 204 bhp, and the 280 Nm. The S80 T5 had a five-cylinder 2.0 engine that developed 226 bhp while the S80 2.0T had a 13 bho, two-liter, five-cylinder engine. A diesel-engined model was also offered, the 280 2.5 D. To benefit the environment, all Volvo S80 radiators incorporated PremAir® coating from the end of 1999.

Launched in Europe, the Volvo C70 Convertible was introduced, and received it largest success in the United Kingdom. The C90 Coupe received a new 165 bhp non-turbo engine option. More than twenty awards and prices were won for the Volvo C70, S80, S70/V70, 850, 940/960 and S40/V40 in the year of 1999. Actual sales targets were exceeded in the US, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden for the Volvo S80.

The Volvo S80 featured incredibly preventive safety standards that were incorporated into its design features, with the aid of a sturdy chassis, consistent and predictable behavior and torsional rigidity in the body of the Volvo. In accordance with Volvo's modern powertrain concept, a range of five and six cylinder engines were installed transversely in the Volvo S80. These were designed for low vibration allied to high torque in a wide rev range, allowing for a smooth operation.

Designed and equipped with the intention of impacting the environment as little as possible, the Volvo S80 was made globally conscious.

By Jessica Donaldson
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Arrow Right 2006 Volvo models
Volvo C70 T5
Volvo S40
Volvo S60
Volvo S60 R
Volvo V50
Volvo V70
Volvo XC70
Volvo XC70 AT
Volvo XC90
2006 Volvo Concepts
Volvo C30
Volvo C30
Volvo C30 Concept
Volvo C30 Concept

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2006 North American International Auto Show

Volvo
Monthly Sales FiguresVolume
April 20134,464 
March 20135,365 
February 20134,867 
January 20134,875 
December 20126,150 
November 20126,141 
October 20124,200 
September 20124,977 
August 20126,323 
July 20125,717 
June 20127,107 
May 20126,246 
(More Details)

 
122
780
C30
C70
P 1800
P120
PV
PV4
S40
S60
S70
S80
Series 200
V40
V50
V60
V70
XC60
XC90

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