Volvo introduced the first generation of the S80 in 1998, and, thanks to Ford’s investment, it refreshed the lineup five years later.
While the Swedish carmaker was not in perfect shape, its flagship sales were going well thanks to the new design language and its P2 platform developed before getting into Ford’s ownership. Gone were the rear-wheel-drive models and, with the introduction of the latest safety features, it became a much safer vehicle.

The exterior changes were not very impressive, but they revealed a new front fascia with a grid-like grille instead of the vertical slats used before. The car’s designers reworked the front bumper to increase pedestrian protection. In the back, the new taillights received smaller reversing lights and a slight redesign for the bumper.

Inside, Volvo heavily modified the dashboard. The designers installed a pop-up screen for the navigation system on top of the dash panel, offered as an option. Another significant improvement was for the instrument cluster, where the carmaker introduced chromed rings around the dials. On the door panels, Volvo S80 featured new controls for windows and power-mirrors carried over from Ford’s parts bin.

Under the hood, the Swedish carmaker had to change, update, or drop some of its engines due to introducing the new Euro 4 emission system that was mandatory starting with 2005. Volvo took another significant step forward with the introduction of the all-wheel-drive system for selected S80 versions.