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First Passenger Car to Achieve Top Safety Rating

27 November 1999

Actual Crash-Tested Volvo S80, First Passenger Car to Achieve Top Safety Rating in NHTSA's Side Crash Test, to be Displayed at NACE

    ATLANTA -- At this year's International Autobody Congress and Exposition 
(NACE) December 3-5, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. will display the 
actual Volvo S80 that achieved the first five-star rating in a passenger car 
side impact crash test performed by the U.S. Department of Transportation's 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

    The 1999 Volvo S80 received a perfect rating of five stars in the front
seat and five stars in the rear seat.  The S80 is equipped with a standard
Side Air Bag for the driver and with a standard Inflatable Curtain that is
designed to deploy to cushion the head of the driver and the head of the rear
seat passenger in severe side crash.

    The side crash used to test this passenger car simulates a typical
intersection collision between two vehicles.  In the tests, forces are
measured on two crash dummies when moving, a deformable barrier is impacted at
an angle into the side of a car at 38.5 mph.

    This result shows how innovative design can meet the challenge of
providing a high level of side impact protection in passenger cars, said Dr.
Ricardo Martinez, former NHTSA administrator.

    One of the safety features that debuted on the S80 is the Inflatable
Curtain, which helps protect front and rear seat occupants from head injuries
in certain side impacts, remarks Hans-Olov Olsson, President and CEO of Volvo
Cars of North America, Inc.  It is very likely the Inflatable Curtain played a
role in the S80's performance in the SINCAP test.

    The safety systems of the 1999 Volvo S80 will remain unchanged in model
year 2000.

    What Do the Stars Mean?
    Drivers and passengers in the side crash rating receive a one to five star
rating, with five stars indicating the best performance.  The side crash star
ratings are assigned based on the chance of a life threatening chest injury
for the driver, the front seat passenger and the rear seat passenger.  Head
injury is not measured in the side crashes.

    -- 5% or less than chance of serious injury
    -- 6% to 10% chance of serious injury
    -- 11% to 20% chance of serious injury
    -- 21% to 25% chance of serious injury
    -- 26% or greater chance of serious injury

    For more information on this side crash test, visit the NHTSA website at
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov and reference test number: NHTSA 33-99.