Volvo will supply Tristar with 700 cars each year, to chauffeur Virgin Upper Class passengers to and from their UK airport of choice. This will be the 15th consecutive year the three companies have worked together.

The Tristar/Virgin fleet will comprise a mix of S80 and V70 163hp D3 SE models, while other Volvo models will be specified as and when they are needed. In a bid to further reduce their CO2 emissions, Tristar will later also introduce Volvo's “Geartronic” models, complete with the new fuel and CO2 emission saving start/stop technology into the fleet.

To ensure the highest levels of passenger safety, all models chosen will feature Volvo's City Safety technology – which can lessen the severity of, or entirely avoid, low-speed rear-end collisions at speeds of up to 18mph. 

City Safety keeps watch on vehicles in front with the help of a laser sensor built into the windscreen at the height of the rear-view mirror. The car automatically brakes if the driver does not respond in time when the car in front slows down or stops – or if the driver is driving too fast towards a stationary object. City Safety is fitted as standard to all Volvo S60, V60, XC60, V70, XC70 and S80s.

John McKee, Tristar's UK commercial director, said: ‘Volvo continually brings new things to this contract and City Safety is an exciting advancement for all concerned. It should further improve customer safety by reducing the number of incidents and knock-on repair costs across the Virgin chauffeur fleet.

‘Volvo's range continues to provide the right combination of safety features, comfort for both passengers and chauffeurs, and a continued reduction in emissions and an increase in fuel economy,’ he added.

Selwyn Cooper, Volvo Car UK's national corporate operations manager, said: ‘This partnership between Tristar, Volvo and Virgin has been very successful for over a decade. We are proud to supply cars to Tristar as it provides an excellent opportunity to get some very high profile business men and women into the Volvo brand, some for the first time.’