#projectgalaxy

It took 13 years and ended up being the most expensive project in Volvo’s history - but in the summer of 1991, the #Volvo850 finally arrived. Design began in 1978 as #ProjectGalaxy, which would yield two totally new Volvos, a smaller 300-series replacement (G1), and a larger car to replace the 200-series (G2). They would truly be all-new: platforms, engines, gearboxes, the works. The G1 was spun off to Volvo BV in the Netherlands in 1982, becoming the 400-series; work on the larger G2/850 then began in earnest. The new engines of the 850-series were at first called the “X-100” and they were mated with a new gearbox (the M-series, necessarily small to fit in a smaller space) developed for the new cars. Later, Aisin-Warner developed a similarly small automatic. The aluminum “Modular engine” took eight years to reach production, but yielded 26 years of potent, durable motors. The 850 used only I-5s, but there were also fours and sixes. Early prototypes were tested out in a Chevy Citation - about the size of the original G2 idea. The rear suspension was a unique “Deltalink” hybrid of trailing arms and beam axle. In the late 80s, the design was tweaked by a “Driving pleasure group” to make it more fun to drive. Meanwhile, the structure of the car was reinforced by Nils Bohlin’s Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) late in the game. By then, the project had grown in scope and complexity. “850” was chosen because it slotted between “700” and “960.” In 1983, #JanWilsgaard and Lasse Petterson had both presented ideas. Petterson’s version looked a little like a Talbot Tagora, Wilsgaard’s looked more contemporary and got the nod. Because the project dragged on, the lines were progressively softened with the final style changes coming in 1989, but then there were tooling and production delays. The car didn’t arrive stateside until the 1993 model year. I was at once unfamiliar and familiar - boxy but aerodynamic, and offered as a sedan and capacious wagon - clearly a Volvo. The 243-hp T-5R of 1995 drew huge attention for its combo of speed and sleeper looks, spawning the 250-hp #850R for 1996, which continued on sale into early ’97. This is one of those last 850Rs. https://www.instagram.com/p/CB0x6FHFFmz/?igshid=1pe172pb11hzo

It took 13 years and ended up being the most expensive project in Volvo’s history - but in the summer of 1991, the #Volvo850 finally arrived. Design began in 1978 as #ProjectGalaxy, which would yield two totally new Volvos, a smaller 300-series replacement (G1), and a larger car to replace the 200-series (G2). They would truly be all-new: platforms, engines, gearboxes, the works. The G1 was spun off to Volvo BV in the Netherlands in 1982, becoming the 400-series; work on the larger G2/850 then began in earnest. - The new engines of the 850-series were at first called the “X-100” and they were mated with a new gearbox (the M-series, necessarily small to fit in a smaller space) developed for the new cars. Later, Aisin-Warner developed a similarly small automatic. The aluminum “Modular engine” took eight years to reach production, but yielded 26 years of potent, durable motors. The 850 used only I-5s, but there were also fours and sixes. Early prototypes were tested out in a Chevy Citation - about the size of the original G2 idea. The rear suspension was a unique “Deltalink” hybrid of trailing arms and beam axle. In the late 80s, the design was tweaked by a “Driving pleasure group” to make it more fun to drive. - Meanwhile, the structure of the car was reinforced by Nils Bohlin’s Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) late in the game. By then, the project had grown in scope and complexity. “850” was chosen because it slotted between “700” and “960.” In 1983, #JanWilsgaard and Lasse Petterson had both presented ideas. Petterson’s version looked a little like a Talbot Tagora, Wilsgaard’s looked more contemporary and got the nod. Because the project dragged on, the lines were progressively softened with the final style changes coming in 1989, but then there were tooling and production delays. - The car didn’t arrive stateside until the 1993 model year. I was at once unfamiliar and familiar - boxy but aerodynamic, and offered as a sedan and capacious wagon - clearly a Volvo. The 243-hp T-5R of 1995 drew huge attention for its combo of speed and sleeper looks, spawning the 250-hp #850R for 1996, which continued on sale into early ’97. This is one of those last 850Rs. https://www.instagram.com/p/B0BjtfMFoOz/?igshid=dmx9grhrs8nw