Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Volvo saved themselves from bankruptcy with the 700 series and the 850, but these cars propagated a boxy look that became the sort of thing stand-up comedians ridiculed. What Volvo needed was a new direction and the first car to use it was the S80. We’re very lucky to have the person behind this new design – Volvo’s lead designer, Peter Horbury to take us through it all. So, where did this new look come from, what management shenanigans drove the decisions over how the S80 was designed and how successful was it?
Link to the full interview with Peter Horbury: youtu.be/ebTs3X1SU-Q
A very special thanks to the people at Benaroya Hall, Seattle for letting me film: seattlesymphony.org
Intro music: Dan Lebowitz - Tiptoe out the Back (from the YouTube audio library)
If you'd like to support what I do, and get early access to advert-free videos and exclusive channel updates, please consider supporting the channel from just $1 or 80p a month: patreon.com/bigcar
Support me using PayPal: paypal.com/paypalme/bigcartv
Big Car merch: teespring.com/stores/bigcartv
Twitter: twitter.com/bigcartv
My second channel - Little Car: youtube.com/littlecar
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_ECC
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Horbury
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1
media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/models/volvo-ecc/1992
web.archive.org/web/20160304084500/http://ranwhenparked.net/2014/09/02/1992-paris-motor-show-volvo-introduces-the-environmental-concept-car
web.archive.org/web/20050426085921/http://www.lacar.com/lenfrank/volvoecc.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_P2_platform
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_D3_platform
volvoclub.org.uk/press/pdf/presskits/S80LaunchPressKit1998.pdf
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_700_Series
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_Modular_engine
volvoclub.org.uk/tech/Tech_Spec_S80_2003.pdf
web.archive.org/web/20111219120844/http:/www.euroncap.com/tests/volvo_s80_2000/55.aspx
volvoclub.org.uk/s80.shtml
economist.com/business/1999/01/28/ford-swallows-volvo
economist.com/business/2000/11/02/herr-luxury
volvoclub.org.uk/press/pdf/presskits/S80ExecutivePressKitMarch2001.pdf
web.archive.org/web/20060528103216/http:/autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060330%2FFREE%2F60327009%2F1024%2FLATESTNEWS
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_B8444S_engine
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_SI6_engine
autocar.co.uk/car-review/volvo/s80-2006-2016
web.archive.org/web/20151222141635/https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/media/pressreleases/18997
economist.com/business/2018/09/13/volvo-abandons-its-plans-for-an-ipo
economist.com/business/2010/03/28/devolving-volvo
autoblog.com/2009/02/26/geneva-preview-volvo-readies-updated-s80-for-swiss-debut
volvoclub.org.uk/press/s80/2006USA/ecdtopic174.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_P3/Ford_EUCD_platform
volvoclub.org.uk/press/releases/2013/s80_2014.shtml
volvoclub.org.uk/press/releases/2014/s80_2015.shtml
mashable.com/article/volvo-polestar-1-electrified-cars
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polestar
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geely
#bigcar
Volvo saved themselves from bankruptcy with the 700 series and the 850, but these cars propagated a boxy look that became the sort of thing stand-up comedians ridiculed. What Volvo needed was a new direction and the first car to use it was the S80. We’re very lucky to have the person behind this new design – Volvo’s lead designer, Peter Horbury to take us through it all. So, where did this new look come from, what management shenanigans drove the decisions over how the S80 was designed and how successful was it?
Link to the full interview with Peter Horbury: youtu.be/ebTs3X1SU-Q
A very special thanks to the people at Benaroya Hall, Seattle for letting me film: seattlesymphony.org
Intro music: Dan Lebowitz - Tiptoe out the Back (from the YouTube audio library)
If you'd like to support what I do, and get early access to advert-free videos and exclusive channel updates, please consider supporting the channel from just $1 or 80p a month: patreon.com/bigcar
Support me using PayPal: paypal.com/paypalme/bigcartv
Big Car merch: teespring.com/stores/bigcartv
Twitter: twitter.com/bigcartv
My second channel - Little Car: youtube.com/littlecar
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_ECC
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Horbury
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1
media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/models/volvo-ecc/1992
web.archive.org/web/20160304084500/http://ranwhenparked.net/2014/09/02/1992-paris-motor-show-volvo-introduces-the-environmental-concept-car
web.archive.org/web/20050426085921/http://www.lacar.com/lenfrank/volvoecc.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_P2_platform
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_D3_platform
volvoclub.org.uk/press/pdf/presskits/S80LaunchPressKit1998.pdf
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_700_Series
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_Modular_engine
volvoclub.org.uk/tech/Tech_Spec_S80_2003.pdf
web.archive.org/web/20111219120844/http:/www.euroncap.com/tests/volvo_s80_2000/55.aspx
volvoclub.org.uk/s80.shtml
economist.com/business/1999/01/28/ford-swallows-volvo
economist.com/business/2000/11/02/herr-luxury
volvoclub.org.uk/press/pdf/presskits/S80ExecutivePressKitMarch2001.pdf
web.archive.org/web/20060528103216/http:/autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060330%2FFREE%2F60327009%2F1024%2FLATESTNEWS
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_B8444S_engine
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_SI6_engine
autocar.co.uk/car-review/volvo/s80-2006-2016
web.archive.org/web/20151222141635/https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/media/pressreleases/18997
economist.com/business/2018/09/13/volvo-abandons-its-plans-for-an-ipo
economist.com/business/2010/03/28/devolving-volvo
autoblog.com/2009/02/26/geneva-preview-volvo-readies-updated-s80-for-swiss-debut
volvoclub.org.uk/press/s80/2006USA/ecdtopic174.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_P3/Ford_EUCD_platform
volvoclub.org.uk/press/releases/2013/s80_2014.shtml
volvoclub.org.uk/press/releases/2014/s80_2015.shtml
mashable.com/article/volvo-polestar-1-electrified-cars
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polestar
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geely
#bigcar
