Massage chairs for 2009 Volvo S80 and XC90

Volvo know how to pamper its mid-size luxury S80 and premium SUV XC90 Executive owners after a stressful day in the workplace - and it involves inflatable pockets.

As bizarre as it sounds - like most Swedish inventions - it's actually very simple and makes life that much more relaxing - massage chairs.

Having practically invented the sauna and the modern-day massage, Scandinavians are also noted for their aura of cool. So it's right that Volvo has built in five inflatable pockets to the front seats of both the S80 and XC90 Executive models to perform a unique massage for its tense drivers.

Set to appear on 2009 models, both the S80 and XC90 Executive are available to order immediately, although the production run doesn't commence until next month, with prices yet to be confirmed.

As a result of polling Volvo drivers, the Special Vehicles division of the Swedish car manufacturer gauged that seating comfort and general suppleness of the materials involved were key to ride quality in the minds of its customers.

So in 2009 models of the S80 and XC90 Executive onwards, Volvo drivers and their front seat passengers can zone out courtesy of a unique fusion of massage and ventilation.

Five individual cavities located in the front seats are inflated and depleted sequentially to create a wave-like vibration which focus on the lower back and offers two levels of rigidity. Along with comfort, ventilation is the other S80 and XC90 Executive buzz-word here, as varying degrees of chill air are also secreted.

Tactility within the S80 and XC90 Executive interiors has also been addressed, with the introduction of a soft, perforated hide fabric across the seating. Both receive a sprinkling of walnut, specifically over the the soft-leather clad centre console and instrumentation fascia.

This perfected padding is bedecked in three trim colours, with the XC90 Executive model leaving hand-woven leather trim door inserts as its calling card, whilst the S80 can spec both an analogue clock set into the wood inlay on the dash and two crystal glasses engraved with Volvo's Executive etching that are stored in a refrigerated and illuminated compartment.

Also optional is a pair of 8” wide VGA LCD screens screwed into the back of the front seat headrests, whereas Volvo's premium sound system - with a little help from its friends at Bang and Olufsen, Alpine and Dynaudio - reinforce the aural composure.