25 years Volvo 940 and 960

Cologne, August 10, 2015

In August 1990, Volvo introduced two new flagships in the model program, which relied on the proven rear-wheel drive and reaped worldwide acclaim for its groundbreaking safety systems. One became the best friend of families. The other even managed to move into the fleet Scandinavian royal families.

Familiar body versions are complemented

The 940 should replace the successful 740, the luxurious 960 analogous to the 760. Both models were initially available as a sedan and station wagon with giant 2,125 liters of load capacity. New in Swedish prestige class were beyond five other body versions, which were however not available in all markets. Thus, the 960 offered as an executive sedan with luxury individual rear seats, as chauffeur and state limousine with a 15 centimeter longer wheelbase, or even with special superstructures, such as for medical and ambulance.

Swedish steel with security features

Not allowed lacking new security features: These included a daytime running lights, an optional integrated child seat in the rear center armrest and new standards such as automatic three-point seat belts for the rear seats, the world's first height-adjustable headrest for the middle rear seat and a side impact protection system. The security technologies and innovations in the 940 as well as the sister model 960 were standard and Volvo brought countless awards and accolades.

Milestones in engine construction and drive technology

At the launch of the 960 was a 204-hp 3.0 - liter inline six-cylinder petrol engine. 1995 held a new 2.5 - liter six-final with 170 horsepower under the hood Swedish collection, which was developed based on the higher-displacement series first molar. In some countries, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine made for propulsion. Diesel engines were the 960 never in the program. When 940 was the aggregate range of four-cylinder gasoline engines and a six-cylinder diesel. The engines had 2.0 to 2.4 liters and provided 82 to 200 HP.

Different suspension constructions

Differences were apparent in the chassis structures of 940 and 960. The 940 station wagon built on a robust rear rigid axle. The 960 already decreed against a comfort-oriented rear axle. For Model 1995 then a completely redesigned multi-link rear suspension has been introduced with a transverse leaf spring made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic, which came both in combination and in the limousine used.

Robust engines, good rust protection and the successor

Speaking of robustness: mileages in the high six figures are the rule rather than an exception. So a 300,000 km of old cars from the 900 series is now considered " just retracted" and many kilometers millionaires are known. But even the good antirust helped that the two models are still prevalent in today's streetscape ?? although a quarter of a century already has passed since the start of production. Overall, about 478,000 Volvo 940 and more than 154,000 Volvo 960 were built in about eight years of production. The models were replaced in 1997 by the S90 ( sedan ) and V90 ( wagon). The last time being Volvo models with rear-wheel drive . (ml)