Review: Volvo Mk.1-I S80 (1998-03)

Overview

Released in May 1998, the Volvo Mk.1 Phase I (Mk.1-I) S80 was an executive sedan. Manufactured in Torslanda, Sweden, the front-wheel drive Volvo S80 was available with either a 2.9-litre inline six cylinder petrol engine (the ‘2.9’ variant), or a 2.8-litre twin turbocharged inline six cylinder petrol engine (‘T6’). From July 1999, better-equipped SE editions of the 2.9 variant were introduced, while the T6 was only available as an SE edition to denote its additional features. In April 2001, the four-speed automatic for the 2.9 was replaced by a five-speed unit.

B6294S and B6284T Engines

The Volvo Mk.1 S80 was powered by Volvo’s RN (Revised N) modular engines which had aluminium cylinder blocks and heads, fracture-split forged steel connecting rods, double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Specifically, however, the 2.9-litre B6294S six-cylinder engine had variable intake valve timing and a compression ratio of 10.7:1. The 2.8-litre B6284T twin-turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine, however, had variable exhaust valve timing and a compression ratio of 8.7:1.

For the Volvo S80, all engines were mounted transversely. According to Volvo, the S80 was the first vehicle to have a transversely mounted six-cylinder engine that was mated to a side-mounted gearbox.

Volvo Mk.1-I S80 specifications
Variant	Edition	Years	Engine	Trans.	Peak power	Peak torque
2.9	N/A	1998-01	2922 cc B6304S3 petrol I6	4sp auto	150 kW at 6000 rpm	280 Nm at 4200 rpm
	SE	1999-00	2922 cc B6304S3 petrol I6	4sp auto
	N/A	2001-03	2922 cc B6304S3 petrol I6	5sp auto
T6	N/A	1998-99	2783 cc B6284T twin turbo petrol I6	4sp auto	200 kW at 5400 rpm	380 Nm at 2100-5000 rpm
T6	SE	1999-03	2783 cc B6284T twin turbo petrol I6	4sp auto	200 kW at 5400 rpm	380 Nm at 2100-5000 rpm

Body and dimensions

The Volvo Mk.1 S80 was underpinned by Volvo’s P2 platform which was subsequently shared with the Volvo Mk.1 S60 and Mk.2 V70 . Compared to the Volvo S90 , the Mk.1 S80 was 199 mm shorter (at 4822 mm), 72 mm wider (1832 mm), 6 mm lower (1434 mm) and had a 129 mm shorter wheelbase (2791 mm). Furthermore, the Volvo S80 had a drag co-efficient of 0.28 Cd.

Almost half of the Volvo S80’s body was made from high strength steel. The Volvo S80 had a torsional rigidity of 18.6 k Nm/degree, making it the most torsionally rigid Volvo at the time of its release.

Suspension and steering

The Volvo S80 had MacPherson strut front suspension whereby, beneath the spring struts, there were triangular lower links and an anti-roll bar was directly attached to the spring struts via a link. To make the front end less sensitive to acceleration forces and wheel vibration, the S80 had a small front-wheel centre offset of 43 mm with wider tyres and 49 mm for the others.

The Volvo S80 had four-link rear suspension (two trailing arms, upper and lower links) with a track rod and an anti-roll bar. The rear suspension was mounted to a chill-cast aluminium sub-frame that was attached to the S80 at four points via insulating rubber bushings to reduce noise and vibration.

The Volvo S80 had rack-and-pinion with hydraulic power assistance.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Volvo S80 included dual front airbags, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags (i.e. for front and rear occupants), ABS, electronic brake force distribution, front seatbelt pretensioners, anti-submarining seats and Volvo’s whiplash protection system (WHIPS) for the front and rear seats. The T6 was also fitted with electronic stability control and traction control.

Euro NCAP crash testing

In Euro NCAP crash testing , a 2000 Volvo S80 sedan fitted with a 2.4-litre engine – and equipped with a driver’s airbag, front side airbags and curtain airbags – received a four star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 29. In the frontal impact test, chest protection of both front occupants was marginal, as was leg protection for the driver. In the side impact and pole tests, however, the S80 received maximum points.

Features: Volvo S80

Standard features for the Volvo S80 included 16-inch alloy wheels, an eight speaker sound system with a CD player, climate control air conditioning, leather seats, cruise control, front fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 60/40 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, a tilt and reach adjustable steering wheel, a height adjustable driver’s seat, a trip computer and immobiliser.

The S80 T6 was further equipped with a power adjustable driver’s seat (with memory settings) and a limited slip differential.

In July 1999, standard features were extended to include a nine speaker sound system.

Volvo S80 SE editions

In July 1999, SE editions of the S80 2.9 and T6 variants were released. Of these,

the 2.9 SE gained a power adjustable driver’s seat with memory settings, heated front seats, a car phone and wooden interior panelling; and,
the T6 SE featured a three-disc CD changer and a car phone.

From April 2001, the S80 T6 SE was further equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels and satellite navigation.

Review: Volvo Mk.1-II S80 (2003-06)