AutoMundo, the premier American Spanish-language automotive magazine, named the new Volvo S80 as Car of the Year for 2007. The esteemed award which is appearing in the April issue of the magazine follows the car's debut in the United States market. It also reflects the appeal of the very first Volvo luxury sedan powered by the famed V8 engine.
The Volvo S80 is the latest attempt of the automaker to move away from its boxy image. But aside from invoking futuristic styling, the automaker also tested the waters and introduced a powerful engine supported by a , filter, heating and cooling system and equally powerful brakes.
The luxury flagship sedan from the automaker was chosen for its remarkable revolutionary design, dynamic and youthful driving attributes and Volvo's legendary safety systems. "The new 2007 Volvo S80 was really the obvious choice," commented Jorge Koechlin, the President and Editor-in-Chief of AutoMundo. "As the company's first V8-powered car, it really breaks the mold of what AutoMundo has come to expect of Volvo's cars."
"The S80 is a true competitor to other European and Japanese luxury sedans," said Anne Belec, the President and the CEO of Volvo Cars for North America. "This recognition by the editors of AutoMundo is significant, and reflects our belief that Volvo is worthy of consideration in this very competitive segment."
The Volvo S80 is equipped with a bunch of standard safety systems to showcase the automaker's safety features milestones. The features include the Side Impact Protection System (SIPS), Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution. It also features many driver-assistance systems such as Volvo's Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning and Ready Alert Brakes with Electronic Brake Support.
The S80 also features the optional Personal Car Communicator (PCC) remote control. According to the automaker, before a driver gets to their car, they are able to review the security level and know whether they have set the alarm and if the car is locked. The Volvo S80 is also equipped with heartbeat sensor that gives warning if someone is hiding inside the car. To boost safety to the next level, the luxury sedan is given the Adaptive cruise control (ACC) with Collision Warning and Brake Support (CWBS). The ACC promoted relaxed and comfy driving by allowing the driver to choose speed and minimum time gap to the automobile in front.
The Volvo S80 went on sale in December. It is given a starting price of $38,705 for the 235-horsepower inline-6 cylinder engine and $47,350 for the all-wheel-drive-equipped V8 with 311 horsepower. The S80 is one of the powerful product lines of the automaker. For this year, Volvo's model lineup includes the award-winning S40 and its wagon counterpart the V50; the sporty S60 sedan; the award-winning XC90; versatile V70 wagon and rugged XC70; and the new C70 convertible.
AutoMundo magazine, which is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, is aimed at publishing the most comprehensive editorial regarding all aspects of the automotive industry in the United States. The automotive publication strives to deliver relevant, high-quality content to its Hispanic readers and car enthusiasts.
