THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN A VOLVO. THERE'S THE DEDICATION TO ACHIEVEMENT AND THE LUXURY OF FULFILMENT. THERE'S THE INVESTMENT OF TRUST AND THE RETURN OF RESPECT. THERE'S THE CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM AND THE COMFORT OF SECURITY. THERE'S THE LOVE OF BEAUTY AND THE BEAUTY OF LOVE. THERE'S THE PURSUIT OF DISTINCTION AND THERE'S THE CONFIDENCE OF DRIVING SOMETHING OTHER THAN ANOTHER CLICHE. THAT'S WHY THE NEW VOLVO S80 IS MORE THAN A LUXURY CAR.
Volvo has always existed within the niches created by other brands. It was always able to offer a European alternative for those who wanted an upgrade from the Japanese brands. It was always the haven that offered an interior that is more personable and warm compared to the clinical and calculative German. It is true that the designs are as exciting as porridge, but it also classy enough to mix with the A-listers.
The refreshed S80 gets a buffed up engine over its predecessor with an increase of 31bhp that pushes the power upward from 200bhp to 231bhp at 4,800rpm. The torque also gains a 40Nm increase that boosts the 300Nm engine of old to 340Nm from 1,700rpm to 4,800rpm.
The new 2.5T powerplant is now capable to sprint from 0-100kmh in just 7.5 seconds - which is quite good for a family car. The S80 certainly feels fast in the real world. Its overly-responsive, hyper-active throttle requires just a toe-tap to dump astronomical amounts of torque and throws the S80 forward. And it does it everytime your foot touches the accelerator that you'll start to think this Volvo has lost all its modern finesse and embraced its Viking acestry. Fully open the throttle of the straight-five engine the sound is of the engine becomes a battle cry of a hundred Vikings charging with full blood-lust. It is that good and it feels just as powerful. The S80 has the ability to win traffic-light sprints and pull all the way to topspeed without blinking. Too bad that this car is a front wheel driven car, otherwise it would have chucked more chuckles my way.
Brake and turn into a corner at speed and then you'll feel all of the weight of the car being transferred to the front grille of the S80. The back feels like it has lost all traction and will start to wander if the opposite direction. If you think the S80 is over-steering, it is not. Because soon after the rear goes gallivanting, the front goes in search of the rear too. So, while the S80 is fast in the straights, it becomes a barge in the corners. But it is not all useless. The steering provides much needed feedback to get car back in line.
There is the Driver Alert Control and Lane Departure Warning that warns you with a succession of beeps if you stay away from your lane, which you have te option of switching off if it gets to annoying. The familiar BLIS and active bending lights round up the active preventive safety features of the S80.
If there is one aspect that the Volvo S80 scores full points in, it is the interior creature comforts. The silk metal trim adds and atmosphere of exclusivity, and even though I don't like the wood panels, it would seem that there has been a lot of thought going into the decor. When driven sedately, the S80 rides like a limousine and the suspension and dampers cushions all but the deepest of potholes and hardest of speed bumps.
0 comments:
Post a Comment