Every car brand has its flagship, and for Volvo that would be the S80 sedan. Though larger than the other models in the lineup, this five-passenger ride has never measured up well against its competitors, namely the Acura RL offering 290-horsepower RL, the Infiniti M offering up to 335 horses, and the updated GS 300 and GS 430 from Lexus. Each leaves the 208-horsepower 2006 Volvo S80 in its dust, and presents shoppers with modern engineering that doesn’t date to the late 1990s.

For 2007, Volvo fights back with an update of its biggest car, adding smooth new bodywork, a revised interior, and two new engines, one of which is a V8 pushing 315 horsepower, to a vehicle that is already known for its focus on safety. Volvo will start offering the 2007 S80 in June 2006. Pricing has not been announced.