<B>Source:</B><BR><I>AutoExpress.Co.Uk<BR>News Section<BR>By: Dan Strong<BR>May 27, 2002</I><P><B>V8 Power for Bigger S80</B><P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Swedish car maker Volvo has been checking its math to make sure that eight goes into 80 – and it does. It's turning up the heat on luxury rivals BMW and Mercedes with its facelifted S80, the flagship version of which will be powered by an all-new V8 engine. Not only that, but the revised model will also be longer than before.<P>Our spies say the car will debut at next year's Detroit Motor Show, sporting new lights inspired by the forthcoming XC90, as well as a reworked bodykit which includes fuller bumpers and new wing mirrors. Inside, it will build on many of the ideas seen on the XC90.<P>Under the skin, changes will be even more dramatic. Rather than use an existing V8 from sister firm Jaguar, Volvo has fine-tuned a new unit with the help of Yamaha, which also worked on the Ford Puma's 1.7-litre engine.<P>It's expected to produce at least 320 bhp and 295 lb.ft of torque, propelling the flagship Volvo to an electronically limited 155 mph top speed. Front-wheel drive will be replaced by the Haldex AWD system developed for the new S60R, and the model could use that machine's active suspension and dynamic stability control, too.<P>Prices have yet to be confirmed, but Volvo is said to be aiming for around $55,000 USD undercutting rivals such as the BMW 540i and Mercedes E500. The firm will then start work on a V8 edition of the XC90.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>-Drew