Volvo 850

Infobox Automobile


name=Volvo 850
manufacturer=Volvo Cars
production=1992–1997
predecessor=Volvo 200 series and Volvo 700 series
successor=Volvo V70 and Volvo S70
class=Compact executive car
body_style=4-door sedan
5-door station wagon
layout=FF layout
engine=2.4L 168 hp I5
2.3L 222 hp I5
length=Sedan: auto in|183.5|0
Wagon: auto in|185.4|0
width=auto in|69.3|0
wheelbase=auto in|104.9|0
height=auto in|55.7|0
1996-97 Wagon: auto in|56.9|0
transmission=4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
assembly=Torslanda, Sweden
Ghent, Belgium
designer=Jan WilsgaardThe Volvo 850 is a compact executive car produced by Volvo Cars from 1992 to 1997 (sold as 1993–1997 in the U.S. market) and designed by Jan Wilsgaard. Available in sedan/saloon and station wagon/estate body styles, the Volvo 850 was notable as the first front-wheel drive vehicle from this Swedish manufacturer to be exported to North America. It is often considered the vehicle that gave Volvo its reputation as a high-end auto maker in North America due to the level of features available in this model that were not offered in previous models. At the time of its development, the 850 was regarded as one of the largest engineering endeavours in Sweden.

Overview

The Volvo 850 was introduced worldwide as a 1992 model, but arrived in the U.S. in the 1993 model year. It was sold as a sedan with a wagon model on sale from 1992 in Europe. The 850 was the first Volvo model in the U.S. to feature front-wheel drive and an all-aluminum 20-valve five-cylinder engine. The 850 was Volvo's top-seller in the mid-1990s. In markets outside the U.S. a 10-valve variant of the five-cylinder was popular for its lower cost and better fuel economy.

All U.S. 850s received standard equipment such as dual front airbags, antilock brakes, head restraints and three-point seat belts for all passengers, power windows, door locks, and mirrors, cruise control, and dual zone climate control. Side torso airbags became a world first when introduced as an option for 1995. Some other options during the model run included features such as traction control, leather interior, power glass moonroof, power seats, heated seats, remote keyless entry, automatic climate control, and automatic transmission.

The 850 sedan features a remarkable interior space of 2.80 m³ (99 cubic ft). This is slightly more than the 2.78 m³ (98 cubic ft) of the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class even though the car is reasonably compact on the outside. This space is achieved by mounting the in-line 5-cylinder engine transversely (from the left to the right of the car) under the hood. The road-holding and handling are vastly improved over the previous rear-wheel drive Volvos.

The 850 Turbo Wagon is one of the fastest production station wagons in the world, capable of 250+ km/h (160+ mph) when ungoverned. Production models of the wagon and sedan are electronically governed to approximately convert|142|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on. [ [http://eden.rutgers.edu/~swunder/320/final/800intro.htm Volvo 800 Series Overview ] ] In 1996 a "Platinum" edition of the 850 Turbo was available. The exterior paint for these models came in a metallic pearl platinum-color and had special 16 inch alloy wheels. The interior was fitted with leather seats and burled walnut accents. Only 1500 of these were imported for the U.S. market. [ [http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/1993-to-1997-volvo-850.htm 1993-1997 Volvo 850 - Consumer Guide Automotive ] ]

For the last model year (1996/1997) 850 was available also with 5-cylinder Volkswagen/Audi turbodiesel engine (D5252T) with 140 bhp. As well AWD (All Wheel Drive) model was introduced with a new 193 bhp low pressure turbo 2.4 litre engine (B5254T).

In 1998, the model line was updated, and renamed the Volvo S70 (sedan) and Volvo V70 (station wagon). These vehicles were sold in the U.S. through the 2000 model year when there were still many 850's waiting to be sold. This allowed for an alternatively designed vehicle; the 2001 Volvo S60 and Volvo V70, during the 850's production hiatus.

Rear suspension

For the 850, Volvo created what it called "Delta-link semi-independent rear suspension". Volvo held a U.S. patent for rear axle bushings that compress under load, giving the Volvo 850 passive rear steering. The automobile also has a tight turning circle, convert|10.2|m|ft|1|abbr=on, and was considered very maneuverable. By comparison, later large Volvos had a convert|11.9|m|ft|1|abbr=on turning circle.

Motorsport

Legendary Australian race driver Peter Brock drove a Volvo 850 touring car in a one-off Bathurst 12-hour endurance event in 1994, and drove the car in the 1996 Australian Super Touring Championship. Volvo joined forces with the famous and very successful Tom Walkinshaw Racing team (TWR) in 1994 to build an 850 Estate touring car to compete in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Despite much criticism, the 850 Estate performed well, with a best placed finish of fifth, and a best qualifying spot of third. It was driven by Rickard Rydell and Jan Lammers and Volvo finished sixth in manufacturers' standings in the 1994 season. In 1995, TWR and Volvo built the 850R Saloon BTCC Racer and this won five races, qualified on pole position 13 times with Rickard Rydell and Tim Harvey and finished third in the championship. The switch was due mainly to the change in BTCC regulations which allowed aerodynamic aids (spoilers) which effectively ended any chance of the Estate being fully competitive. In 1996, an improved 850R saloon raced which boasted eight wins with Rickard Rydell and Kelvin Burt and finished third in the championship. Volvo were also prevalent with the 850 in championships across Europe and in Australia.

R models

In 1995 a special limited edition race-bred model was released. This "850 T-5R" model was limited in exterior paint color choices: only available in cream yellow (2500 worldwide including sedan and station wagon), in black (2500 worldwide including sedan and station wagon) and emerald green metallic (500 worldwide including sedan and station wagon). Only 2,000 were made for the U.S. market and in only two colours, black and creme yellow. There were 1,825 of them in black and 185 of the cream yellow models. The vehicle was based upon the 850 Turbo with the B5234T5 engine with a special ECU known as the Bosch #628 ECU, that added 3 psi (21 kPa) to turbocharger boost pressure, giving the engine an additional 18 horsepower (13 kW).

1995 was the only year that the race-bred model was badged as a "T-5R". All subsiquent models are badged with just the simple addition of "R". Example: 1995 850 T-5R, 1996 850R, 1997 850R, 2004 S60R, etc.

For the Italian market, the T5-R was based on the 2.0 litre 850 Turbo. The transmission was the standard AW/50-42 used in all U.S. 850's, the M56H being available in other countries.

Also, included in the 1995 "T-5R" package is a front bumper with a lip, and a special Alcantara (the fire-retardant version of Toray Industries' Ultrasuede (tm)) and leather two-tone interior, in dark grey with deep birch wood grain accents. Additionally, the 1995 "T-5R" models came with polished aluminum door sills and for the 1995 model year only, the "T-5R" had an additional badge to the left of the "850" on the trunk, referred to as "The Motorsport badge". Aftermarket Motorsport badges are available and are often added by owners but only the 1995 T-5R came standard with that badge. The standard wheels were the 5-spoke 17×7 "Titan".

In 1996 and continued through 1997 (the final year of the 850) a separate R model was released called the "850 R", this model was not as limited in production as the "T-5R" was. Monza red, black, anthracite grey, emerald green metallic, turquoise and white were the only color choices. Also, a new rear spoiler on sedans was introduced, and the interior was still two-tone but, the layout changed — in 1995 the leather was in the center of the seats — now it was on the outside bolster portion. The standard wheels used in these model years were the 17×7 "Volans". For 1996 and 1997, Volvo also introduced a new manual transmission for these cars called the M59 that came standard with a Torsen differential. The M59 was available in most markets, except the US. Furthermore, the M59 cars were equipped with a larger turbocharger and upgraded software enabling these cars to produce 250hp versus 240hp for the automatic transmission equipped cars. Torque was also significantly increased in the manual models from 300Nm to 350Nm.

Trims (U.S.)

All manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRPs) are base prices only.

1993:
*850 GLT ($24,800 MSRP): 2.4 L I5, 168 hp (125 kW) @ 6300 rpm and 162 ft·lbf (220 N·m) @ 4500 rpm

All 1993 850 models were badged GLT, regardless of equipment. Many options (leather, sunroof, and more) were bundled into the Touring package.

1994:
*850 ($24,300 MSRP): 2.4 L I5, 168 hp (125 kW) @ 6300 rpm and 162 ft·lbf (220 N·m) @ 4500 rpm
*850 Turbo ($29,985 MSRP): 2.3 L I5, 222 hp (166 kW) @ 5200 rpm and 221 ft·lbf (300 N·m) @ 2100 rpm

The base 850 sedan includes the same headlights, front valance and front and rear bumper as the 1993 850, while all other models, including the new wagon, get revised headlights, front valances, and front and rear bumpers. The GLT badge is dropped, although all the same equipment is available. The 222 hp Turbo sedan and wagon, as well as the normally aspirated 168 hp wagon, are new models this year.

1995:
*850 ($24,580 MSRP): 2.4 L I5, 168 hp (125 kW) @ 6300 rpm and 162 ft·lbf (220 N·m) @ 4500 rpm
*850 GLT ($27,110 MSRP): 2.4 L I5, 168 hp (125 kW) @ 6300 rpm and 162 ft·lbf (220 N·m) @ 4500 rpm
*850 Turbo ($31,045 MSRP): 2.3 L I5, 222 hp (166 kW) @ 5200 rpm and 221 ft·lbf (300 N·m) @ 2100 rpm
*850 T-5R ($35,545 MSRP): 2.3 L I5, 240 hp (179 kW) @ 5600 rpm and 221 ft·lbf (300 N·m) @ 2100 rpm

The GLT badge returned for the 1995 model year, so there were now sedan and wagon versions of the 850, 850 GLT, 850 Turbo, and 850 T-5R. The T-5R was the new high performance model, with more power stemming from ECU tuning, and special suspension, trim and wheels. In addition to the introduction of the T-5R, changes included new tail-lights for sedans, optional side airbags, new interior switch-gear design and several other detail changes.

1996:
*850 ($26,125 MSRP): 2.4 L I5, 168 hp (125 kW) @ 6300 rpm and 162 ft·lbf (220 N·m) @ 4700 rpm
*850 GLT ($29,200 MSRP): 2.4 L I5, 168 hp (125 kW) @ 6300 rpm and 162 ft·lbf (220 N·m) @ 4500 rpm
*850 Turbo ($32,650 MSRP): 2.3 L I5, 222 hp (166 kW) @ 5200 rpm and 221 ft·lbf (300 N·m) @ 2100 rpm
*850 R ($37,925 MSRP): 2.3 L I5, 240 hp (179 kW) @ 5600 rpm and 221 ft·lbf (300 N·m) @ 2100 rpm

Changes this year include a revised power door lock system, new exterior colors, and full OBD-II compliance. The T5-R high performance version became the R in 1996, but the performance differences remained relatively the same.1997:
*850 ($26,710 MSRP): 2.4 L I5, 168 hp (125 kW) @ 6300 rpm and 162 ft·lbf (220 N·m) @ 4500 rpm
*850 GLT ($31,835 MSRP): 2.4 L I5, 190 hp (142 kW) @ 5100 rpm and 199 ft·lbf (270 N·m) at 1600 rpm
*850 T-5 ($34,500 MSRP): 2.3 L I5, 222 hp (166 kW) @ 5200 rpm and 221 ft·lbf (300 N·m) @ 2100 rpm
*850 R ($38,685 MSRP): 2.3 L I5, 240 hp (179 kW) @ 5600 rpm and 221 ft·lbf (300 N·m) @ 2100 rpm

For 1997, the 850's final year, all GLT models were increased to 190 hp (142 kW) by pairing a low-pressure turbocharger with the 2.4 L engine. The 850 Turbo model was thence called the 850 T-5, as it always had been in the UK. The 1997 model year was short, as the substantially similar (virtually identical except for superficial styling changes) Volvo S70 sedan and Volvo V70 wagon were introduced during the first half of 1997.

Quick Info

References

*"Ford Communications Network", [http://media.ford.com/newsroom/feature_display.cfm?release=20601 "The Spiritual Predictor of Volvo Today"] , Ford Motor Company, Brad Nevin, Michigan, 29 April 2005

External links

* [http://www.tar.hu/volvo/amazing-volvo-850-crash-test-video.php Volvo 850 Crash test] , An amazing Volvo 850 Crash test Video.
* [http://www.brickboard.com/ The Brickboard] , an owners resource and technical forum
* [http://www.volvospeed.com/ Volvospeed] , an enthusiasts site
* [http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/ Matthew's Volvo Site] , an owners resource and technical forum