Volvo Since 1927

[lipton]

Volvo Since 1927   


In 1927 Volvo ÖV4 introduced by Göteborg industrialist Assar Gabrielsson and engineer Gustaf Larsson was the first Swedish motorcar. They built a factory to challenge the dominance of imported cars in the Swedish market but their four-cylinder engine touring car had a top speed of only 37 miles per hour. Since 1927 Volvo has had a number of significant benchmarks:

1927 OV4, "Jakob", PV4 Sedan introduced.
1928 The first truck, OV 4 TV (pickup) went into production
1929 The six cylinder PV651.
1930 Volvo purchased its engine supplier, Pentaverken.
1930 TR671 taxi introduced
1931 TR673 taxi introduced.
1932 TR674 taxi introduced.
1933 PV653 and PV654 sedans introduced. They had 100% metal bodies.
1934 TR676, TR678 and TR679 taxis introduced.
1935 PV658, PV659 and PV36 sedans introduced
1935 TR701, TR703 and TR704 taxis introduced
1936 PV51 sedan introduced.
1937 PV52 sedan introduced.
1938 PV53, PV54, PV55 and PV56 sedans introduced.
1938 PV801 and 802 taxis introduced.
1944 PV444A 2-door sedan introduced.
1946 PV60 production begins after 1942 introduction.
1947 PV822, PV823, and PV824 taxis introduced.
1948 PV821 taxi introduced.
1950 PV444B 2-door sedan introduced.
1951 PV444C 2-door sedan introduced.
1952 PV444D 2-door sedan introduced.
1953 PV444E 2-door sedan introduced.
1953 PV445DH pickup introduced
1954 PV444H 2-door sedan introduced.
1955 PV444K 2-door sedan introduced.
1955 Volvo entered the American market with the PV444K.
1956 Volvo Amazon/120 introduced.
1956 PV445GL picup introduced
1957 PV444L 2-door sedan introduced.
1957 PV445LL and PV445-06 pickups introduced
1958 PV544 introduced.
1958 PV445-06M picup introduced.
1959 3-point safety belts introduced as standard equipment
1961 Production of the Volvo P1800 started.
1963 Volvo opened the first assembly plant abroad, in Halifax Canada.
1966 The Volvo 140 was introduced.
1968 Volvo 164 introduced.
1974 Volvo 240 introduced.
1975 Volvo Car BV, formely DAF, started manufacture of the Volvo 66.
1976 Volvo 343 introduced.
1982 Volvo 760 introduced.
1984 Volvo 740 introduced.
1985 Volvo 480 introduced.
1988 Volvo 440 introduced.
1990 Volvo 940/960 introduced.
1991 Volvo 850 introduced.
1994 The new Volvo 960 introduced.
1995 Volvo S40/V40 introduced.
1997 Volvo S90/V90 introduced in USA (renamed 940/960)
1998 Volvo C70/S70/V70 introduced in USA (renamed 850)
1999 Ford Motors acquired Volvo Cars Division, the Volvo brand is jointly owned between Ford and Volvo Group.
1999 Volvo S80 introduced in USA
1999 Volvo introduces All Wheel Drive on some models
1999 Volvo S40/V40 introduced in USA
2001 Volvo S60 introduced
2001 The new Volvo V70 & V70 XC AWD are introduced
2002 AWD offered on S60 and V70
2003 Volvo XC90 introduced in both AWD and FWD models
2004 AWD offered on S80
2004 Volvo V50 introduced with AWD optional
2005 Volvo XC90 AWD V-8 introduced
2007 Volvo C30 hatachback based on the S40 is introduced.
2007 Volvo S80 is redesigned and an V-8 is offered.


Volvo 850 and S70/V70 History
1993 850: 740 replacement arrives with 168-horsepower inline five-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. Dual airbags and ABS are standard. Automatic transmission has "Economy" and "Sport" shift modes, as well as a winter second-gear start feature. Car meets 1997 side-impact standards, traction control is optional, and sedans have standard integrated child safety seats. Wagon not available.

1994 850: Turbo model debuts with 222-horsepower 2.3-liter five-cylinder engine, and a wagon body style is introduced with standard integrated child seat. Turbo is available in either sedan or wagon format. Warranty is upped to 4 years/50,000 miles.

1995 850: Side airbags are standard on all 850 Turbos this year; optional on other 850s. All models get Turbo's rounded front styling.

1996 850: This year all Volvo 850s are equipped with front seat side-impact airbags, optional traction control (TRACS), and a life insurance policy that pays $250,000 to the estate of any occupant who loses their life in the 850 as the result of an accident.

1997 850: The Turbo is now known as the T-5. GLT models get a new engine that makes 22 more horsepower than last year, and peak torque at a low 1,800 rpm. Base and GLT models meet Transitional Low Emission Vehicle (TLEV) regulations this year.

1998 S70/V70/C70: Designers and engineers have given the 850 model a thorough revamp, adding power, safety, comfort, and a dash of styling pizzazz to an already fine automobile. The cars are renamed: S70 is the sedan, and V70 is the wagon. The redesign includes a new nose, body-color trim, stronger side-impact protection, more powerful turbo engines, redesigned interior, and revised suspension. All-wheel drive wagons arrive to battle luxury SUVs and the hot-selling Subaru Legacy. Volvo performs a slam-dunk with its first new coupe in years; the convertible is somewhat less thrilling. Modeled on the S70 chassis, the C70 shares sheetmetal with the S70 from the windshield forward, and is powered by the same set of turbocharged powerplants.

1999 S70/V70/C70: Volvo's first all-wheel drive sedan debuts, vehicle options and color choices have been simplified. Volvo offers a light pressure turbocharged engine in the coupe to entice consumers looking for a lower-priced ticket.

1999 S80: The larger more luxurious S80 makes its debut. This long overdue redesign of the S90 counts several firsts to its credit: first with a transverse inline six, first with fully integrated GSM phone, first to carry an environmental specification and the S80 boasts the world's smallest manual transmission.

2000 S70/V70/V70XC: Engine improvements, a new transmission, and equipment upgrades constitute the changes for the 2000 Volvos. The V70 AWD and V70 T-5 were discontinued. The V70XC became the only AWD.

2001 S60: The S60 is Volvo's new sedan that takes the place of the discontinued S70 Sedan. Smaller than the S80 but bigger than the S40, Volvo has designed the S60 to be sporty as well as safe. Like the Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series, it should appeal to drivers who are looking for a sedan that is fun to drive.

2001 S80: Volvo added a new trim level, the luxurious S80 T6 Executive. Additional standard content for all trim levels comes in the form of leather seating, a luggage holder, remote retractable rear head restraints, memory position mirrors and Homelink. The 2.9 gets new 16-inch wheels and an auto-dimming rearview mirror as standard. All S80s get dual-stage airbags. The available Security Package for the S80 2.9 and T6 will now include the Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) which keeps the passenger cabin free from odors and pollutants.

2001 V70/V70XC: The 2001 V70 has improved interior space, versatility, comfort and performance. The new V70 shares its platform with the S80, Volvo's top-of-the-line sedan. As a result, the new V70 is slightly shorter than the 2000 model, but it has a longer wheelbase, wider front and rear tracks, and about 2 more inches of width and height. The base 2.4T and all-wheel-drive Cross Country models comes with a 197-horsepower, 2.4-liter, turbocharged five-cylinder engine. The XC T-5 is introduced. New safety features include front-and-rear head airbags, and child-seat ISOFIX attachment points.

2002 S60: The big news is the arrival of the S60 2.4T AWD and its slick electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system. Additionally, all S60 models get Emergency Brake Assistance (EBA), enhanced traction control performance and improved throttle management, resulting in quicker response in everyday driving situations. Volvo's Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC) system is now standard in T5 models and optional for the 2.4T AWD (starting in December 2001). Other model-specific changes include satellite controls on the steering wheel and rear cupholders for the base 2.4 model and a memory function for the power seats and mirrors in 2.4T and T5 models. The entire lineup gets revised rear headrests, ISO-FIX child restraint attachment points and an emergency trunk release handle.

2002 V70/XC: Like the rest of its platform mates (S60 and S80), the V70 and get emergency BrakeAssist, enhanced traction control performance and improved throttle management, resulting in quicker response in everyday driving situations. In addition, a V70 AWD model will be offered -- minus the armor and raised suspension of Volvo's Cross Country. Standard content has been increased, as well: All models get a cargo security cover; the 2.4T gets six-spoke alloy wheels and a leather gearshift knob; and the T5 gets Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC), special vinyl/cloth upholstery, leather wrappings on the steering wheel, hand brake and shift knob and aluminum mesh accents. Both the V70 and XZC new features include a DVD-based navigation system, xenon headlamps and an upgraded premium audio system. Cosmos Blue is now an exterior color choice.

2002 S80: As a follow-up to the S80 T6 Executive, Volvo released the T6 Elite, which combined the increased rear legroom, wider rear door openings and interior luxuries of the Executive with the convenience of a rear bench seat, thus providing room for five. Additionally, all S80s got Emergency Brake Assistance (EBA), enhanced traction control performance and improved throttle management, resulting in quicker response in everyday driving situations. Other improvements include color-coordinated exterior trim (rather than the usual black moldings), an emergency release trunk release handle and the availability of a DVD-based navigation system and xenon headlamps.

2003 S60: The new high-performance S60 R became available. Otherwise, minor changes were in store for Volvo's sport sedan for 2003. A leather-wrapped steering wheel, along with a stereo with a CD and a cassette deck, graced the interior of the 2.4 and the 2.4T. The latter also gots foglights and wood dash trim in its standard equipment list. For the all-wheel-drive version, the 2.4 turbocharged engine received a small bump in displacement and horsepower. Rain-sensing wipers and OnCall Plus (the telematics system) were available, and two new colors, Titanium Grey and Ruby Red, brightened the exterior.

2003 V70/XC70: The new high-performance V70R, making 300 horsepower, became available. A leather-wrapped steering wheel and an audio unit with a CD and cassette player graced the interior of the 2.4 and 2.4T. The latter also got real wood trim. For the all-wheel-drive version, the 2.4 turbocharged engine received a small bump in displacement and horsepower. Rain-sensing wipers and OnCall Plus (the telematics system) are available, and two new colors, Titanium Grey and Ruby Red, brighten the exterior. Other new features include a DVD-based navigation system, an upgraded premium audio system, xenon headlamps and deep-tinted windows.

2004 S80: The S80 received a minor refresh this year that includes a modified grille, additional chrome trim and a revised rear fascia for the exterior along with a new gauge cluster and door panels for the interior. Volvo's Four-C adjustable suspension is a new option on all trim levels. An all-wheel-drive version of the 2.5T will be added midyear, but it cannot be ordered in conjunction with the Four-C suspension. Finally, the T6 Premier replaces the T6 Elite as the top trim level.

2005 V50: An all new V50 was introduced in 2005. The V50 offers a host of safety features. A new front structure boasts four different grades of steel, offering maximum protection for the car's occupants. Side impact and side curtain airbags are standard, as is a whiplash-protection seating system. Two trims are available: the 168-horsepower base 2.4i, and the 218-hp T5. T5 models are also available with all-wheel drive.

2006 XC70: The XC70 has a new all-wheel-drive system dubbed Instant Traction(tm).

2007 S80: The S80 receives a redesign. The 5 cilinder engine is replaced with the choice of a 6 or V8.

2007 V70 & XC70: The 2.5T models receive new outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, a tire pressure monitoring system and Dynamic Stability Traction Control.

2007 V50: The 2.4i model receives stability control and a new overhead console, while the front-wheel-drive T5 models now feature a five-speed Geartronic automatic transmission.

2007 S60: Volvo's Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC) becomes standard across the line, as does a tire pressure monitoring system.

[lipton]

What was the begining of Volvo




Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson were the two men behind Volvo. Gabrielsson had a Bachelor of Science in Economics and was a businessman. He began his career at SKF in Göteborg. In time, he became the head of SKF's subsidiary in France and discovered that it was possible to sell Swedish ball bearings at a lower price than the US suppliers. In 1923 he returned to Sweden to become sales manager for SKF.

Gustaf Larson was an engineer and designer. He had worked as a trainee at White & Poppe in Coventry in England, where he was involved in the design of Morris engines. In 1917 Larson returned to Sweden and took a degree at the University of Technology in Stockholm. He then worked as an engineer at SKF in Göteborg for three years before returning to Stockholm.

In the summer of 1924 Gabrielsson and Larson began seriously to discuss plans for producing cars. They came to a verbal agreement in August and a start had already been made on design work by September. In 1925, Penta (a marine engine manufacturer) received its first order from their newly started car enterprise on Hisingen outside Gothenburg started by Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson. Volvo was born on April 14th, 1927, when the first car, which was nicknamed "Jakob", left the factory in Göteborg.

Once there was something to be seen, SKF became interested. It then provided guarantees and credit for an initial series of 1,000 vehicles, 500 open and 500 covered. SKF also provided the factory premises and the name, AB Volvo, which had been used in a previous business operation. Volvo is Latin and means "I roll". The Volvo circle-and-arrow trademark was created to represent strength, taking its graphic shape from the traditional alchemist's symbol for iron ore.

Before 1927, before the birth of Volvo Company, car makers built cars by choosing ready-made parts from catalogs and then assembling them into cars. The results were of poor quality. Eventually many of the early car makers ceased to exist. Volvo had a different philosophy: they believed quality cars could only be built from designing components in-house, contracting the designs to be built by manufacturers and finally assembling the parts by experienced car builders. The desire to build quality cars was the driving force behind Volvo. Combined with the name, the Volvo graphic identity is "rolling strength" -- an expression of its approach to building cars.