The Volvo P80 platform was a Swedish

mid-size Mid-size—also known as intermediate—is a vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than compact cars and smaller than full-size cars. "Large family car" is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in t ...

unibody

automobile platform A car platform is a shared set of common design, engineering, and production efforts, as well as major components, over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of cars, often from different, but somewhat related, marques. It is pract ...

developed and produced by

Volvo Cars Volvo Cars ( sv, Volvo personvagnar, styled VOLVO in the company's logo) is a Swedish multinational manufacturer of luxury vehicles headquartered in Torslanda, Gothenburg. The company manufactures SUVs, station wagons, and sedans. The company's ...

. It was in use from 1991 to 2005. It is designed for different

wheelbase In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels. For road vehicles with more than two axles (e.g. some trucks), the wheelbase is the distance between the steering (front ...

s in

front-wheel drive Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longit ...

configurations and was adapted to

all wheel drive An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand. The most common forms of all-wheel drive are: ;1x1 : All unicycles Reflecting one axle with one w ...

. It debuted with the 1991

Volvo 850 The Volvo 850 is a compact executive car that was produced by the Swedish manufacturer Volvo Cars from 1991 until 1996. Designed by Jan Wilsgaard, the car was introduced in a saloon body style; an estate style was introduced in 1993. The Volvo ...

. Although heavily modified by TWR, the same basic chassis was used as the underpinnings for the C70. After the model year 2000 most P80 models were replaced by their P2 successors, with the exception of the C70 convertible which remained in production until 2005. A total of 1,360,522 cars based on this platform were built. The platform utilises a front engine transaxle design with engines and gearboxes mounted transversely on a subframe. Only straight 5 engines were offered. A front subframe and front

MacPherson strut The MacPherson strut is a type of automotive suspension system that uses the top of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in the front suspension of modern vehicles, and is named for American automotive engineer Ear ...

s were used and either Volvo's patented Deltalink rear axle on FWD models or Volvo's Multi-Link rear suspension with an independent rear subframe on AWD models.

Vehicles

References

{{Volvo cars 1991 introductions

P80 P80 may refer to: Automobiles * BMW P80, a family of Formula One engines * Toyota Starlet (P80), a Japanese car * Volvo P80 platform, a Swedish mid-size automobile platform * WM P80, a French prototype racing car Other vehicles * P80 (rocke ...