It may not be the first brand that comes to mind when thinking of performance cars, but Volvo has a long history of creating meaner versions of automaker models. The 850 R is a prime example of one of those sporty Swedes from the 1990s. A heavily modified example of the autobahn in this video.
According to the specifications at the start of the clip, the turbocharged 2.3-liter five-cylinder engine produces around 480 hp (358 kW) and 443 pound-feet (600 Newton-meters) of torque. Plus, the powerplant makes a muscular, rumbling sound. Redline seems to be around 7000 rpm. There is enough force for the speedometer needle to turn over the tip of the gauge.
The 850 is a very important model for Volvo, especially in the US. Throughout most of the 1970s and 80s, the American brand’s lineup consisted of the 200 and 700 series with rear-wheel drive engines. However, the 850 launched front-wheel drive, and later some markets outside the US got an all-wheel-drive variant, which was a first for the automaker.
850 also adopted a new one, transversely mounted, five-cylinder in-line engine available in several displacements over the life of the model. The Model R was the most powerful version to arrive producing 247 hp (184 kW) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque.
There was also a wagon version of the 850. Volvo even brought a racing box engine inside British Touring Car Championship in 1994. It was not very successful but had an attractive appearance for a competition machine.
The 850 nameplate lasted until the 1997 model year in the US. After that, Volvo introduced a new model that adopted the name S70 for the sedan and V70 for the wagon.
