These are the very first spy shots of the facelifted Volvo S80L in China, the new car will debut at the Beijing Auto Show in November. As usual with Volvo changes are small, mostly around the grille, head lights and bumper. Still, it does look freshed up a bit.

New alloys there. The Volvo S80L is made in China by the Chang’an-Volvo joint venture, dating from Volvo’s Ford days. When Geely bought Volvo many expected that Geely would kill the joint venture as soon as possible. They didn’t and it loox like the won’t for a while. The current S80 will have to soldier on until 2015 when Geely will start building its replacement in the new Geely-Volvo factory in Chengdu which will also make the S60 sedan and XC60 SUV and two all-new Volvo’s.

Enginewise no changes: 2.0 turbo with 203hp and 300nm and 3.0 turbo with 440nm. Geely by la ways, seems to be doing things very well with Volvo. Sales were up 20% in 2011 and new marketing techniques will likely prove effective in 2012 as well.

Via: Autohome.

The S80L is the first new Volvo to hit the Chinese market under Geely’s ownership. The car is made in China by Volvo’s joint venture with Chang’an Automotive, the jv also makes the S40. Geely will continue production until their own Volvo-factory is ready, likely in 2012.

The S80L is meant to compete with the BMW 530L, the Audi A6L, the Benz E300L and the Toyota Crown. Wheelbase grew by 14 centimeter to 297.6cm. All extra space goes to the passengers in the back. The S80L is now also available with the 3.0 V6 turbo, other engines are the 2.5 turbo. and the 3.0. Price from 398.000 to 678.600 yuan.

Stangely no dvd-screens as standard, competition does, the market demands, so Volvo is wrong.