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 Volvos
are often thought of as the automotive equivalent
of sensible shoes: safe, practical and
conservative. But things are changing. The recent
introduction of the C70 coupe and convertible was
the beginning, but now there's the revolutionary
S80, a front-wheel drive, four-door sedan so hot
you wonder if someone put jalapenos in the recipe
for Swedish meatballs. It replaces the aging,
rear-wheel drive S90. Volvo says this totally new
car is "the culmination of everything the company
has learned about the art of carmaking for the last
27 years,'' and it shows. You will notice
immediately that it looks different. The boxy look
so often favored by Volvo is gone, replaced by a
rounder, sleeker style that slips through the air
with a minimum of fuss. Its aerodynamic efficiency
is reflected in the 0.28 coefficient of drag, among
the lowest for a production car. A consequence of
this slipperiness is better fuel economy and less
noise in the cabin at highway speeds.
 There
are two versions, the base model (base price
$36,395) and the T6 (base price $40,960). Both are
powered by transversely mounted, inline 6-cylinder
engines that sport dual-overhead-cams (DOHCs),
variable valve timing and four valves per cylinder.
The one in the base car is a 2.9-liter and puts out
201 horsepower. The one in the T6 is a 2.8-liter,
and it sparkles with 268 horsepower. I sampled the
top-of-the-line twin-turbo T6 from Volvo's press
fleet which was not only sporty and fast, but as
tight as a newlywed's budget and as stout as a
brick warehouse. The interior looked like a
high-tech office but was as comfortable as the
well-worn couch in your family room. While other
Volvos may not have the most user-friendly
interiors, this one is great. The center console is
angled so that it is easily read, and switches have
large, soft knobs. The seat heater buttons are
mounted on the right side of the center console,
which is a bit of a reach. The radio uses an
unconventional system of knobs to change stations
and bands, but it was a breeze once I read the
manual to see how it worked. A gray, rubberlike
texture covers the center of the dash, while a
strip of dark wood is used as an accent around the
upper part of the cabin.
 The
S80 is built on a 109.9-inch wheelbase, and has an
overall length of 189.8 inches. Five people can fit
inside, and the trunk is generous. Sizewise, it is
comparable to the Mercedes-Benz E320, Lexus GS300
and BMW 540i. The T6 uses two small turbochargers
because they respond quicker than one large one,
resulting in the throttle response of a larger,
non-turbo aspirated power plant. Step into the
throttle gently and you're greeted with a pleasing
surge of power. Stomp it, however, and you're
rewarded with strong acceleration. Continuously
variable valve timing also enables this engine to
have a broad power band so that it drives bigger
than it is. A Geartronic automatic transmission
accompanies the T6 engine. This unit enables the
driver to slip the lever to one side and change
gears manually for more control. Similar to
Porsche's Tiptronic and Chrysler's AutoStick,
Geartronic is an appealing feature for those who
like the control of a manual in some occasions and
the ease of an automatic in others.
Volvo has long
been known for its emphasis on safety, and the S80
takes that to a new level. They say the stiffer
body structure does a better job of protecting
passengers in a crash. Front and side airbags are
standard, but they are supplemented by two
inflatable curtains, one on each side, that deploy
from the ceiling and protect occupants' heads in a
side impact. These curtains are stowed in the
headliner above the doors. They remain inflated for
three seconds, which, Volvo says, provides added
protection from secondary impacts and helps keep
occupants from being thrown from the vehicle.
 An
additional safety feature is a whiplash protection
system built into the seats. In the event of a
rear-end collision, this system helps cushion the
impact while the upper part of the seat moves up
and forward to provide extra support for the head
and neck. Anti-lock brakes as well as the Stability
and Traction Control (STC) aid traction in poor
weather conditions and contribute to safety as
well. Volvo's previous traction control system only
worked below 25 mph, while STC works to stop a
spinning wheel at any speed. Large rotors for the
disc brakes on all four wheels account for
impressive stopping power. Some drivers might even
think they are overly sensitive, but I like the
security they create.
Volvo indicates
that the S80 is the first of a family of vehicles
that will carry them into the next century. It is
such a tight, solid platform, with absolutely no
squeaks or flexing of the body, that it provides
them an excellent base for more products to come.
Price
The base price of
the T6 is $40,960. Options on our test consisted of
leather upholstery, power sunroof, in-dash CD
player, walnut wood trim and an interior movement
sensor. The sticker price was $44,715. Warranty:
Four years or 50,000 miles.
Point:
The S80 is a considerable departure from the
styling of previous Volvos. But it also offers
great seats, a tight body structure, innovative
safety features and invigorating performance.
Counterpoint:
Figuring out how to work the radio required reading
the manual, but it was simple when I figured it
out.
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Vehicle
Type:
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front-drive
sedan, four-door,
five-passenger
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Base
Price:
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$40,860
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Engine
Type:
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2.8-liter,
6-cyl.
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Power
(SAE net):
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268-hp
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Transmission:
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automatic
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Wheelbase:
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109.9
inches
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Length:
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189.8
inches
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Curb
Weight:
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3,682
pounds
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EPA
fuel economy, city driving:
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18
city, 27 hwy
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