Volvo unveiled the second generation of the S80 in 2006, and, at a glance, it might have been confused with a facelifted version of its predecessor, but it wasn’t.
While the mainstream premium sedans customers were usually polarized around two or three brands, others looked for something different. Jaguar and Volvo offered that “something,” and both brands were owned by Ford back in 2006.

Peter Horbury designed the car following the same baselines as the 1992 Volvo ECC Concept car. It was easy to recognize the original shapes of that prototype enhanced and softened on the 2006 S80, but it featured a different front fascia. He kept the same forward-mounted radiator grille, resembling the old Viking boats. The front bumper sported a wider air dam on the lower side and two side-scoops for the fog lights. On the hood, the carmaker made two discreet powerdomes. At the back of the car, the shoulder-like profiled quarter panels looked similar to the ECC and the first-generation S80, creating a DNA link to its roots.

Inside, there was a minimalist design language, similar to many Ikea furniture. It was a Swedish design that showed a straightforward dashboard look. The center stack featured the CD-Player on top and the easy-to-understand climate control buttons. Its instrument cluster appeared like a bump from the dash panel and included two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer. At the front, the car sported two bucket seats with Volvo’s unique headrest system that prevented a whiplash if a rear-ended accident occurred, and Volvo installed the same head protection for two passengers in the back.

Under the hood, Volvo offered a choice of diesel and gasoline engines ranging from 145 hp up to 315 hp. An all-wheel-drive system was available for selected versions.