Volvo 850

On Thursday, April 11, 1991, the first sales copy of a completely new model, the 850 GLT, left the assembly hall of the Volvo plant in Ghent. The premiere of the novelty took place in September 1991 at the Frankfurt Motor Show . This front-wheel drive D-class sedan with a transverse engine replaced the Volvo 240 , which has been produced for 18 years. The new model had fundamental differences from all models produced by Volvo earlier. In the design, there was a slight departure from right angles, which made it possible in subsequent models to finally get rid of reproaches of “cubism”. This model contained four technical innovations at once: a transverse 5-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive, steering the rear axle Deltalink, which combined the dynamics and comfort of independent suspension with the safety of the moving rear axle, the SIPS side impact protection system and the front seat belts seats with retractors on impact.

A completely new car platform was created, new production technologies were developed, a completely new engine manufacturing plant in Šovda was equipped, which today supplies engines for Volvo cars, and these are modular structure engines, the design of which was carried out as part of the Galaxy project.

The headrests of a new design began to be used on it, and the steering column received a more secure performance and began to be adjusted both in height and in reach. A foldable child seat is integrated in the center armrest of the rear seat. In addition, four power windows and headlight washers in some countries are standard equipment. Luggage capacity of the sedan is 415 liters.

Initially, the production of the Volvo 850 GLT was established at a plant in the Belgian city of Ghent . Later, part of the production was transferred to the Swedish plant in Torsland. From the production point of view, new technologies were also applied to the 850 assembly: the number of robotic installations and automatic assembly systems increased, laser installations, as well as large presses for the manufacture of large body elements, began to be used for measurements, cutting and welding. The technical structure of the assembly shop was also reorganized and simplified: all assembly points were fully automated, all operations performed above the level of the collector's shoulder were eliminated.

On the 850th model, the security system consists of airbags in the steering wheel hub and glove box lid, side airbags installed in the front seats. All machines were regularly installed ABS system. Volvo 850's first years of production feature wide headlights and flat taillights of almost regular rectangular shape.

In the summer of 1992, the Volvo 850 GLE was introduced. This model differed from the GLT only in the engine. A 20-valve 5-cylinder engine with 170 hp was installed on the GLT. with a working volume of 2.5 liters, the same engine was installed on the GLE, but with 10 valves and a power of 140 hp.

In May 1993, the public presented the wagon Volvo 850 Wagon. The car turned out to be the most practical and not inferior to the sedan in management. The length of the station wagon is 4 cm more than the sedan. Roomy trunk up to 1490 liters is convenient for travel. The rear seat is made folding so as to provide maximum free space in the cabin. The suspension and engines completely repeated the model 850 sedan. The station wagon turned out to be the first model with vertically located taillights occupying the entire rear pillar, starting from the bottom edge of the rear door to the roof itself - this is the solution Volvo uses today. The design of the station wagon has the classic “Volvo” outlines. Volvo wagon won the Japanese Design Award - the 1994 Good Design Grand Prize.

In the summer of 1993, Volvo introduced the T5, a turbocharged engine for the 850 Series. In fact, it was exactly the same engine as the GLT, only with a capacity of 225 liters reduced to 2.3 liters. from. and installed high pressure turbine.

In 1994, the Volvo 850 underwent a slight restyling . After modernization, the headlights narrowed, the bumpers took on a softer outline. A little later, new taillights for the sedan were added, combined by an elegantly curved jumper extending under the number plate.

In 1994, the 850 T5-R was presented at the Geneva Motor Show - the most powerful production Volvo car - 250 liters. from. Power was increased by 25 liters. from. compared to the 850 Turbo due to the installation of a turbine with higher performance and, as a result, changes in the installation coefficients of the injection control system. A sedan or station wagon with such an engine is capable of gaining 250 km / h, and to accelerate to 100 km / h, the car requires 6.7 s. The chassis uses a sporty short-stroke suspension, reinforced brakes and 205/45 ZR 17 tires. The car sported a front lip “forward lip” forward and low-profile tires on 17-inch wheels. Salon "R" is distinguished by rich equipment and suede upholstery.

The production of this version was limited: a total of 2500 cars with an engine capacity of 240 liters were produced. from. in bright yellow. All these cars were immediately sold out, and then Volvo produced another 2,500 black cars. But they quickly dispersed. Finally, another 2,500 T-5Rs were produced, this time the most powerful Volvo 850 modifications were painted dark green.

In 1995, the range of power units was replenished with a 2.5 liter diesel engine. In 1996, a model of the new C70 coupe was introduced in Paris. This model, which was the result of a joint development of Volvo and TWR, is made on the platform of the 850th series.

Instead of this series in 1996, the S70 / V70 series was introduced, which slightly changed in the design of the body and interior, while preserving the mechanical part and engines of the 850th series. In fact, the transition to a new model was restyled with a change in the name of the series.

On the basis of the 850 series, a car was also released in 1996, capable of operating both on gasoline and methane, due to the dual fuel system. The Volvo 850 was completely removed from the assembly line in 1997.

Volvo 850 AWD

1996 was marked by the advent of the 850 AWD station wagon (All-wheel drive - four-wheel drive). He became the founder of a whole galaxy of all-wheel drive Volvo. The car was equipped with a 2.5-liter engine and a low-pressure turbine (193 hp), designed specifically for all-wheel drive Volvo. Transmission 4 × 4 works as follows. Under normal driving conditions, the front wheels are driving. They supply 95% of the engine's energy, the rest falls on the rear. When the front ones begin to slip, the viscous coupling gradually distributes energy to the rear wheels - as a result, a situation may arise that already 95% of the engine torque will be supplied to them. If necessary, the rear cross-axle limited-slip differential is triggered, and the role of the front block is performed by the TRACS traction control. Thanks to this scheme, the all-wheel drive Volvo is very confident in making its way, even if the road is covered with a solid layer of freshly fallen snow. But the car is not designed for genuine off-road.

Sales

The Volvo 850 was initially introduced with the GLT version with a 20-liter naturally-aspirated 170-liter engine. from. The price of a new standard car in Sweden was 187,900 kroons. For the price, it ended up between models 940 and 960. There was success in the new model market, including the most important US market for Volvo. Global tests of the car confirmed that the 850 was attractive to consumers around the world, and it managed to achieve worldwide recognition - in total, the Volvo 850 received almost 50 international prizes and high ranks. In the period from 1991 to 1997, 716,903 cars with the Volvo 850 emblem were produced. Of these, 390,835 were in the sedan and 326,068 were in the station wagon.

Having appeared on the market, the 850th cost 47,500 DM in Germany in 1992. In 1993-1994, the cost of a car in the GLE configuration amounted to 45,700 DM, GLT - 49,900 DM.

In the US market, the Volvo 850 went on sale on October 24, 1992 as a 1993 model year car. The cost for a 850 GLT sedan with a manual gearbox started at $ 24,100.

In Russia in 1993-1994, the cost was: Volvo 850 GLE (140 hp) - $ 19,700, 850 GLT (170 hp) - $ 22,200, 850 T5 (225 hp) - 24 700 $. Prices for the basic model sedan with a manual transmission and excluding customs duties, the surcharge for a station wagon and for an automatic transmission was $ 1,100 ^[1] .

In January 1995, for the newly appeared T5R model in the UK, they asked for 27,800 pounds for a sedan and 28,840 pounds for a station wagon. As options, they offered a 30-pound passenger airbag and 935-pound automatic transmission.

Between 1993 and 1996, the Volvo 850 was number one in Sweden. Its market share reached 14.4% of all cars sold.

Production

• The official website of Volvo in Russia