FYI - Here is a Volvo press release about the crash test results of the S80:

For Immediate Release

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, GA – 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

www.nhtsa.dot.gov and reference test number: NHTSA 33-99.