Volvo 700

After the successful launch of the 760 model, in 1984 its simplified and cheaper modification of the Volvo 740 appeared. It was conceived as a medium-sized car, while with richer equipment than the 200 series. These intentions were not justified, since most buyers found the 700th series overrated and ugly. 4 in the middle of the model number used to mean a four-cylinder engine, but by the time the 740 model appeared, it simply spoke of less rich equipment, about the installed four- and six-cylinder engines. The 740 was available in four-door sedan bodies (sometimes referred to as 744 ) and a five-door station wagon (also known as 745 ).

Production of the 740 model ended on October 2, 1992, although the engine, transmission, chassis, and other parts continued to be mounted on the Volvo 940 (see below), which was essentially identical to the 740, with the exception of the rear of the sedan. In 1985, for markets such as Italy, where cars with large engines were heavily taxed, a two-liter ( B200ET ) turbocharged version with intercooler was introduced . This engine had a power of 160 liters. from. (118 kW) at 5500 rpm, ten more forces than the previous B19ET, without an intercooler, and accelerated the car to 200 km / h ^[13] . In 1989, the B234 16-valve engine appeared, with almost the same maximum power as a turbocharged engine. It was Volvo's first 16-valve engine. In 1990, the 740 model received a minor update, the headlights and taillights changed. In 1991, the dashboard changed, similar to the panel of 760. 740 basically remained unchanged during the 1992 model year, its sales ended in 1993. The model replaced the Volvo 940 .

In 1990, a number of technical improvements also occurred. Motors B200 and B230 received increased by 13 mm connecting rods. The turbocharger changed from the Garrett T3 to the Mitsubishi TD04. The electronic fuel injection system has been upgraded from Bosch LH Jetronic 2.2 to 2.4 (in 1988 for naturally aspirated engines, in 1990 for turbo engines). The new fuel system is equipped with diagnostics. 1993 was the last year for the 740 model, and the mechanical engine cooling fan was replaced by an electric one. Cars of the 700th series of the early 1990s are one of the most reliable among the four-door passenger sedans of their time due to the relatively small number of engineering restrictions, solid build quality and high level of safety.

Versions

The model, sold worldwide, had the following trim levels: 740, 740 GL, 740 GLE, 740 SE, 740 GLT and 740 Turbo.

Continental European markets had some exceptions. The 740 Turbo 16V (most markets received a 2.3-liter turbocharged eight-valve engine) was sold mainly in Italy, as well as in Portugal and Belgium. Cars with a two-liter B204FT engine mounted on a 780 model were sold in the same markets. The 740 Turbo 16V was powered by ECC, starting with the 780 base model.

At the end of 1991, Volvo introduced the 740 SE sedan and station wagon, which had “special equipment”. 740 SE had three body colors - red, black and white. Technically, the 740 SE was similar to the regular 740 Turbo, but had a large number of basic options, such as an electric sunroof and leather seats. SE also had a special factory exterior color, which also painted front and rear bumpers, side skirts and a spoiler for the sedan. The 740 SE, along with the 740 Turbo sedan, was discontinued in 1992. A total of 650,443 sedans and 358,952 station wagons were produced.

In Germany, the cost of a Volvo 740GL station wagon in 1987 started from 37,070 German marks for a car with a 2.3-liter 113-horsepower engine. In 1988, in Germany, the cost of a 740 Turbo sedan with a 2.3-liter 155-horsepower engine was 45 150 German marks. For an automatic transmission, it was necessary to pay 2400 marks, for four electric windows - 1620 marks, for an ABS system - 3200 marks and for metallic paint - 1175 marks.

The 760 model was Volvo’s attempt to take its place in the executive car market after a reputation was built for a solid and safe brand, but none of the executive cars. At the same time, the Volvo 760 GLE was designed to replace the flagship brand on the market - the Volvo 264 GLE . Jan Wilsgard, Volvo Designer, has proposed over 50 new designs for the car. The 760th model received a spacious body with a large glazing area.

This model appeared in the USA in 1982 in the back of a 760 GLE sedan, being previously introduced in Sweden in February 1982. The station wagon body appeared next, in 1985.

The new design has been criticized by the media. So, Gordon Murray wrote in Autocar magazine:

This is obscene for me. This goes directly against the grain of what everyone else is trying to master. For me, it looks like a European version of a North American car. This is a definite step back. ^[fourteen]

Everything changed, however, when Autocar and Car and Driver received a model equipped with an internal combustion engine with a turbocharger 760 for a test, they indicated that it was one of the best cars in handling and acceleration at that time.

Three options for the power unit were available to customers: a 2.8-liter V6 engine, a 2.3-liter inline four with turbocharging and a six-cylinder in-line turbodiesel. Turbocharged models with an intercooler appeared in 1984, the station wagon and the 740 model (simplified version 760) appeared a year later. In 1985, an electronic traction control system became available. Unlike the simple 740 model, the 760 had anti-lock brakes as standard on many models.

In the 1988 model year, the 760 model received numerous updates. The most noticeable of the more than 2,000 changes were the new front part of the body with an aluminum hood, recessed wipers, new aerodynamic headlights and a more comfortable, modern at the time of production rear independent multi-link suspension, which was used on the 780 model ^[15] . Inside, the entire model was equipped with a new electronic climate control (ECC), an updated dashboard, three-position steering column adjustment, as well as a new stereo system.

Volvo 760 in several countries was used as a police car . East German leader Erich Honecker often used this Volvo model as his government car.

In 1990, in the last year of production of the model, Volvo 760 sedans received taillights in the style of the 780 model, and also underwent minor changes in the interior. Release of the 760 model was completed after the 1990 model year (production ended on June 27, 1990), it was replaced by the Volvo 960 . The Volvo 740 model survived the 760, remaining in production for another two years, until 1992, when the Volvo 850 appeared. In total, 183,864 sedans and 37,445 station wagons were produced.

The Volvo 760 was assembled at plants in Kalmar (Sweden), Halifax (Canada), and Ghent (Belgium). In 1986, in Germany, the turbo option cost from 49,800 DM for a sedan car. The cost of a similar car in the station wagon body began from 48 600 German marks.

The Volvo 780 coupe debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 1985, marking the return of the coupe body from Volvo to the market after the production of the 262C in 1981. The 780 model became available in Europe in 1986 and in the United States a year later.

Like its predecessor, the 780 was designed and manufactured by Bertone in Turin, Italy. The hood, trunk and roofline were slightly lower than the standard 700th, and the rear pillar became wider and had a more gentle descent. The car received chrome trim windows, door handles, bumpers and chrome side moldings. Initially, it was planned to use the smaller, 2.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine ( PRV installed on the Renault 25 and Alpine ) ^[16] , which was successfully tested on the 740 and 760S. In the small 780 engine compartment, however, this engine overheated, and never appeared under its hood.

In the first two years, the 780 model was available worldwide (1986-1987), with a B280F V6 engine installed. In the Italian market, only the Volkswagen D24TIC engine with a capacity of 129 liters was initially available. from. (95 kW) ^[16] , but soon 155-liter V6 engines also became available. from. (114 kW) and a 2.0-liter turbo (B200ET). In 1987, the 780 model was equipped with an independent rear suspension from Volvo.

The B280F had approximately 150 forces (110 kW), with the mass of the machine itself almost 1,500 kg. To solve this problem, Volvo introduced a turbocharged engine, increasing power to 175 horsepower (130 kW). The following year, the model received power already at 188 forces (140 kW). Later, in Italy, 780S models were available with the B204GT engine. It was a 16-valve 200-liter turbo engine. from. (150 kW). In the last year of release of the car, 1991, it was produced only in a coupe and only turbocharged.

The official total volume of 780 models produced by Volvo is 8,518 units built between 1986 and 1991. From 1986 to 1995, Volvo offered a small, front-wheel-drive sports coupe, the Volvo 480 . The successor to the 780 model was the Volvo C70 , which appeared only in 1997.

* - Volvo 740/760

• Volvo official website in Russia. (Russian)
• Volvo Cars Heritage - information on Volvo models from different years. (eng.)