Although the company appears to be in dire financial straits, Volvo is nevertheless forging boldly ahead with the introduction of the completely redesigned 2010 Volvo S80. Using the brand new XC60 as the design standard by which all Volvo’s will eventually be crafted, the 2010 S80 will hit the floor at the Geneva Motor Show next week wearing a sleeker, more sophisticated smile. Struggling to regain a toehold in the Tier 1 segment, Volvo redesigned their flagship design to carry a significantly more sophisticated air. Exterior-wise, the 2010 S80 makes a significantly louder statement with a slightly larger front and rear badging. Receiving the slightly stuffy Swedish interpretation of bling, the 2010 S80 also receives a few chrome accoutrements, including chrome piping around the rocker panels. The “bigger and better” theme is carried over to the inside of the vehicle as well, and although the new S80 doesn’t appear to feature any new gadgets, the center stack and steering wheel controls have been given a noticeable high-class glossing.

In Europe, the new S80 will hit dealer lots with Volvo’s brand new twin-turbo five-cylinder D5 2.4-litre turbodiesel. Impressively, although it’s conservatively rated at 205 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque, the new D5 still manages to boast segment-leading fuel efficiency with a consumption average (EU combined) of only 6.2 l/100 km (164g/km).

Ultimately destined to become one of Volvo’s green “DRIVe” vehicles, the turbodiesel S80 isn’t quite ready to strut its stuff on American soil yet. When it finally drops in late summer 2009, the 2010 S80 will be offered with the same engine options currently found on the 2007 model, including a 235-horsepower 3.2-liter I6, 281-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter I6, and a 311-horsepower 4.4-liter V8.