Volvo 850

Volvo 850
Overview
Manufacturer	Volvo Cars
Production	1992–1997
Assembly	Torslanda, Sweden Ghent, Belgium
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size luxury car
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Layout	FF layout
Powertrain
Engine	2.4L 168 hp I5 2.3L 222 hp I5
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	Template:Auto in
Length	Sedan: Template:Auto in Wagon: Template:Auto in
Width	Template:Auto in
Height	Template:Auto in 1996-97 Wagon: Template:Auto in
Chronology
Predecessor	Volvo 200 series and Volvo 700 series
Successor	Volvo V70 and Volvo S70

Volvo 850 wagon

The Volvo 850 is a mid-size luxury car, that would also be considered a compact executive car, produced by the Swedish automaker Volvo Cars from 1992 to 1997 (sold as 1993–1997 in the U.S. market.) Available in sedan/saloon and station wagon/estate body styles, the Volvo 850 is 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 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, except for the U.S. where it arrived 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 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 were also 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 142 mph (229 km/h). In 1996 a "Platinum" edition of the 850 Turbo was available. The exterior paint for these models came in a metallic pearl platinum-color. The interior was fitted with leather seats and burled walnut accents. Only about 1500 are imported for the fall, equipped with the 222-horsepower turbocharged engine, leather seats, and 16-inch wheels as the T-5R; but Volvo replaced the yellow paint with a metallic "pearl white platinum."

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 too many 850's still waitng to be sold; this conviently allowed for a 2001 Volvo S60 and Volvo V70 during the 850's hiatus.

Defects

In 1999 an accident in French Saverne a Volvo 850 TDI caused the death of two children due a defect of the unresponsive brake system which was well known to the manufacturer. This has resulted in a conviction in 2007 and a 675 000 EUR fine. Volvo was placed under criminal investigation in June 2001 when it was accused of covering up a defect in the brake system which was of "very great importance".

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, 10.2 m (33.5 ft), and was considered very maneuverable. By comparison, later large Volvos had a 11.9 m (39.0 ft) 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 effectiviely 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

Volvo 850 R Wagon

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 black (2500 worldwide including sedan and station wagon), cream yellow (2500 worldwide including sedan and station wagon) and green (500 worldwide including sedan and station wagon). Only 185 of the cream yellow models were made for the U.S. market. 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).

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 "R" package is a front bumper with a lip, and a special Alcantara and leather two-tone interior, in tan or dark gray with either deep birch or light rosewood wood grain accents. 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 limited in production as the "T-5R" was. Red, black, and white were the only color choices. Also, a new rear spoiler 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".

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 Volvo 850 in Sweden

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

Volvo 850 Quick information by Trim Level

Trim	Engine	Turbo	Fuel Delivery	Power	Torque	Transmission	Performance
2.0 10v	B5202 2.0L 1984cc I5 10v	No	Siemens Fenix 5.2	126 hp (93 kW)@6100 rpm	170 N·m @4800 rpm	M56 5 speed manual
2.0 20v	B5204 2.0L 1984cc I5 20v	No	Bosch LH Jetronic	143 hp (105 kW) @6500 rpm	136 ft·lbf (184 N·m)	M56 5 speed manual	0-100 km/h: 10.5s, VMax 203 km/h(126 mph)
2.0 T-5	B5204T 2.0L 1984cc I5 20v Turbo	Yes	Bosch LH-Jetronic	210 hp (154 kW)@5400 rpm		M56 5 speed manual/4 speed automatic
2.5 10v	B5252 2.4L 2435cc I5 10v	No	Siemens Fenix 5.2	144 hp (106 kW) @5400 rpm	206 N·m @3600 rpm	M56 5 speed manual
2.5 20v	B5254 2.4L 2435cc I5 20v	No	Bosch LH-Jetronic	170 hp (125 kW)@6200 rpm	220 N·m @3300 rpm	M56 5 speed manual/ 4 speed adaptive automatic	0-100 km/h: 9.2s, VMax: 216 km/h(134 mph)
2.4 LPT	B5254T 2.4L 2435cc I5 20v Turbo	Mitsubishi 13g turbo	Bosch LH-Jetronic	190 hp (141 kW)@5100 rpm	270 N·m @1800 rpm	4 speed adaptive automatic	0-100 km/h: 7.8s, VMax: 225 km/h(140 mph)
T-5 (Turbo)	B5234T 2.3L 2319cc I5 20v Turbo	Yes (Mitsubishi TD04-15g)	Bosch LH-Jetronic	222 hp (166 kW)@5200 rpm	300 N·m @2000 rpm	M56 5 speed manual/ 4 speed adaptive automatic	0-100 km/h: 7.3s, VMax: 229 km/h(142 mph)
T5-R	B5234T 2.3L 2319cc I5 20v Turbo	Yes (Mitsubishi TD04-15g)	Bosch LH-Jetronic	240 hp (176 kW) @5600 rpm	350 N·m @2000 rpm	M56 5 speed manual/ 4 speed adaptive automatic	0-100 km/h: 6.9s, VMax: 245 km/h(153 mph)
R	B5234T5 2.3L 2319cc I5 20v Turbo	Yes (Mitsubishi TD04-15g auto, TD04-16t manual)	Bosch 4.3 Motronic	240 hp auto, 250 hp (184 kW) @5400 rpm manual	300 N·m auto, 350 N·m @2400 rpm manual	Viscous diff 5 speed manual/ 4 speed adaptive automatic	0-100 km/h: 7.6s auto, 0-100 km/h: 6.7s manual, VMax: 250 km/h(156 mph)

References

• Ford Communications Network, "The Spiritual Predictor of Volvo Today", Ford Motor Company, Brad Nevin, Michigan, 29 April 2005

External links

• Volvo 850 Crash test, An amazing Volvo 850 Crash test Video.
• The Brickboard, an owners resource and technical forum
• Volvospeed, an enthusiasts site
• Matthew's Volvo Site, an owners resource and technical forum