Content Summary : WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE S80, VOLVO has finally shaken off the last remnants of its conservative image. This latest and largest Volvo means the end of the sturdy and reliable rear-drive, sharp-edged S and V90 (better known as the 940 and 960). The company insists, however, that the newcomer will be purely a saloon – there will be no estate car version. Cries of “Shame!” from antiques dealers throughout the land. It’s the first time that the biggest Volvo has had a front-drive power train, and for a start there will be just two (straight six) engine options : a 2.9 litre (204bhp) as tested here in automatic form and, for the top T6, a 2.8 litre with twin turbos (272bhp). Big sixes don’t come any smoother and are rarely quieter than this one. Performance is impressive, too. Acceleration in this case isn’t quite in the sports saloon category – that’s the T6’s province – but, despite the S80’s weight and its power-sapping torque converter, 30-70mph is dispatched in a shade over 8sec and the car will sweep on to a flying 140mph flat out.