When the subtly revised S80 hits Volvo showrooms this summer, buyers will be able to opt between two new chassis, the Lowered Dynamic Chassis and the Comfort Chassis. In the UK, the sporty Lowered Dynamic Chassis will be offered as standard on the SE and SE Lux models with the opportunity to specify the Comfort Chassis as a no cost option while the Comfort Chassis will be the only chassis available on the Executive trim level.
"For some customers, the driving experience is most important, while others priorities ride comfort," says Stefan Sallqvist, section manager for vehicle dynamics at Volvo Cars. "We analyzed the different requirements and designed two alternative chassis with entirely different natures."
For those that prefer sportier driving characteristics and more responsive handling Volvo has made the Lowered Dynamic Chassis far more taut and rigid. More specifically, the car has been lowered by 20mm at the front and 15mm at the rear while the shock absorbers have been given greater damping ability on both compression and extension strokes. Furthermore, all the mountings on the sub-frame have harder bushings and the anti-roll bars have also been strengthened to give increased side stability in corners.
As for the Comfort Chassis, the S80's standard chassis has been re-engineered and comes with softer springs and more subtle damping to deliver a more comfortable ride to the saloon's passengers.
