Volvo S80 Executive & V70 R-Design launched

The Volvo V70 gets a bit of added butch with the launch of the V70 R-Design

The last news we had from Volvo was that the S60 & XC60 R-Design were going to get more get up and go. Sadly, the extra oomph was reserved for the US.

Today’s news, however, applies to Volvos on both sides of the Pond, with a new top-end S80 being revealed – the Volvo S80 Executive – and a butch take on the V70 – the Volvo V70 R-Design.

The S80 Executive (which Volvo says in its press release is a ‘Sober’ Scandinavian design – is that a plus?) gets extra kit over and above that of Volvo’s normal range-topping saloon.

With leather on top of the dash and a set of ventilated and massaging leather chairs – and leather door panels -it’s clear Volvo has invested in extra cows from barb wire-free farms in Scandinavia to give the S80 Executive a swathing of sumptuous hides.

Throw in an analogue clock, extra-thick carpets and an aluminium centre console – not to mention a choice of espresso brown or off black for the hide – and you have a Volvo with a touch of the modern Gentleman’s club. You can even specify a fridge in the back with a set of Swedish Crystal glasses.

The V70 R-Design, on the other hand, is about looking butch. In comes Volvo’s very credible R-Design body kit, with LED indicators, silk metal covers for the mirrors and a set of 18″ diamond cut alloys.

Inside there’s black leather trim (more dead cows) and leather for the gear gaiter and a set of black mats with contrast stitching (don’t get too excited).

As with all Volvo R-Design cars you can attach the R-Design stuff to anything in the range. So you could, if you must, have the 1.6 DRIVe which offers stellar mpg but far from stellar performance. Just don’t.

Both the S80 Executive and the V70 R-Design get Volvo Sensus infotainment system which delivers all the infotainment details on a screen mounted high-up on the centre console so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road (this is Volvo – safety is all).

Perfectly sensible additions to the Volvo range, although Volvo hasn’t told us how much they want for either car so if the Swedish Crystal is too expensive the S80 Executive might be worth a miss. The V70 R-Design however is a very stylish addition.

Butch without being crass.

By Cars UK