In Latin Volvo means "I roll", the circle with arrows is just a convenient symbol of steel - the largest industry in Sweden before iKEA. The circle and arrow symbolize the shield and spear of Mars, which are also alchemical symbols of iron.

In 1924, in the Stockholm restaurant Sturehof on July 25 - the day which is called Jacob's day in the Swedish calendar - Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson decided to create a Volvo.

Volvo's birthday is April 14, 1927, the day the first Jakob left the factory in Gothenburg. However, the real history of the development of the concern began a few years later. The 1920s are characterized by the beginning of the real development of the automotive industry simultaneously in the USA and Europe. In Sweden, they became really interested in cars in 1923 after an exhibition in Gothenburg. In the early 1920s, 12 thousand cars were imported into the country. In 1925, their number reached 14.5 thousand. In the international market, manufacturers, in pursuit of increasing their volumes, did not always selectively approach components, so the quality of the final product often left much to be desired, and as a result, many of these manufacturers quickly went bankrupt. For Volvo's creators, quality was fundamental. Therefore, their main task was to make the right choice among suppliers. In addition, tests were carried out after assembly. To this day, Volvo has followed this principle.

Let's find out the history of this brand in more detail ...

1927 Volvo OV4 "The Jakob"

Created by Volvo

Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson are the creators of Volvo. Assar Gabrielsson - the son of Gabriel Gabrielsson, the office manager, and Anna Larson - was born on August 13, 1891 in Kosberg, Skaraborg. Graduated from the Higher Latin School Knorra in Stockholm in 1909. Received a BA in Economics and Business from the School of Economists in Stockholm in 1911. After working as a clerk and stenographer in the lower house of the Swedish Parliament, Gabrielsson secured a job as a trade manager at SKF in 1916. He founded Volvo and served as president until 1956.

Gustaf Larson - the son of Lars Larson, a farmer, and Hilda Magnesson - was born on July 8, 1887 in Vintros, County Erebro. In 1911 he graduated from the technical elementary school in Erebro; received an engineering degree from the Royal Institute of Technology in 1917. In England from 1913 to 1916 he worked as a design engineer at White and Popper Ltd.

After graduating from the Royal Institute of Technology, Gustaf Larson worked for SKF as a manager and chief engineer of the company's transmission department in Gothenburg and Katrinholm from 1917 to 1920. He worked as a plant manager and later as technical director and executive vice president of Nya AB Gaico with 1920-1926 Collaborated with Assar Gabrielsson to build Volvo. From 1926 to 1952 - Technical Director and Executive Vice President of Volvo.

Volvo's story began with crayfish

As the book "Volvo Cars" narrates, the history of Volvo begins in June 1924, when Assar Gabrielson, the future managing director of the brand, accidentally met in a cafe with former college classmate Gustav Larson, who would later become the technical director of Volvo. They had a short conversation in a cafe that day, and Gabrielson proposed the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating a car manufacturing enterprise. Gustav Larson agreed that they should have discussed this topic in more detail, but he considered the proposal itself hardly serious and did not attach much importance to it. Perhaps this idea would not have received development if they had not met a second time in August of the same year.

Here is how Gustav Larson describes this meeting, recalling Assar Gabrielson (the article was published in Volvo magazine after Gabrielson's death in 1962): “I accidentally walked by the Sture-hof restaurant. I saw an advertisement for fresh crayfish, and decided to go inside, where saw Gabriel sitting alone in front of a whole mountain of red crayfish. I joined him and we started eating crayfish with great appetite. " So they were sitting at the same table. Gabrielson had an excellent opportunity to revisit his idea. The verbal agreement, which they reached in August 1924, took the form of a formalized document on December 16, 1925.

This document proclaimed the following: "I, Gabrielson, intending to establish a car manufacturing enterprise in Sweden, I make an offer to G. Larson to cooperate with me as an engineer." "I, Larson, accept this offer." Gustav Larson had to design a new car. The remuneration for this work would be between 5,000 and 20,000 Swedish kronor, provided that production reaches an industrial level - at least 100 cars per year by January 1, 1928. If the target level of production is not achieved, Larson agreed not to claim any what payment. The chassis drawings for the new car were ready six months before the signing of this agreement.

On April 14, 1927, the first production car Volvo was born - the year of the birth of the automotive industry in Sweden. On that day, the gates of the factory on the island of Hisingen, Gothenburg, opened. The first Volvo car drove out of the gate. It was an open-top phaeton with a four-cylinder engine. Sales manager Hilmer Johansson was driving.

The designer Mass-Olle was guided by American methods in its design. The car was equipped with a 1.9-liter 4-cylinder engine with side valves. Under the designation "OV-4" it was offered with an open body, the version "PV-4" was a sedan.

The short drive to the place where the press was waiting for the car passed without incident. But the night before was not an easy one for those in charge of assembling the car. The last parts needed for assembly arrived by train from Stockholm the previous evening. The haste that accompanied the assembly of the car made itself felt: when in the morning engineer Eric Karlberg decided to inspect and check the car, it turned out that it could only move backward. The main component in the rear axle gearbox was installed incorrectly. Such a beginning was perceived as a good omen: from that moment on, the movement should have been only in the forward direction.

The car was called simply and uncomplicated - ÖV4 and had the affectionate nickname Jacob (Jacob). The letters ÖV indicated the model was an open-top car, and the number 4 was the number of cylinders in the engine. Volvo Jacob was an American-designed Volvo with a powerful chassis and independent suspension with long springs at the front and rear. The engine developed a power of 28 hp. at 2000 rpm. The maximum speed of the car was quite decent for that time - 90 km / h.

Initially, Swedish buyers were not eager to buy new cars

The car's four-aperture body was painted navy blue, and the black mudguards stood out against this background. The Jacob open 5-seater had four doors and was constructed from sheet steel with an ash and copper beech frame. The interior was upholstered in leather, the front panel was in wood. Unlike the seats in many other cars, the seats of the first Volvo were sprung. The wheel structure of this car was a removable rim that was mounted on lacquered wood spokes. Among the minor luxury items in the cabin were a small flower vase, an ashtray and (in the sedan version) curtains on all windows.

A new car with a phaeton body cost 4,800 kroons, and a little later the PV4 sedan was introduced, and an additional 1,000 kroons was added to its price. According to the plans, the plant should produce 500 cars of each model, however, contrary to expectations, Swedish buyers did not seek to buy up new cars. Only 297 cars were sold in the first year. One of the reasons for such a small quantity was the requirement for a very high level of quality of the supplied components and its strict control by the manufacturer.

The PV4's top speed was quite decent - 90 km / h

A year later, a new model is presented - this is the Volvo Special, an extended version of the PV4 sedan. The Volvo Special featured a longer bonnet, slender A-pillars and a rectangular rear window. This car was already fitted with bumpers. At this time, bumpers had not yet become standard vehicle equipment.

Only two years later, the company was able to make its first modest profits. In 1929, Volvo sold 1,383 vehicles. However, in the late 1920s. the car made a real breakthrough, both in the European market and in America.

During his several years at SKF, Assar Gabrielsson noted that Swedish ball bearings were inexpensive compared to international prices, and the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating a production of Swedish cars that could compete with American cars was growing stronger. Assar Gabrielsson worked with Gustaf Larson for several years at SKF, and the two people, after also working together for several years in the British automotive industry, learned to recognize and respect each other's experience and know-how.

Gustaf Larson also had plans to create his own Swedish automotive industry. Their similar views and goals led to collaboration after the first few chance encounters in 1924. As a result, they decided to found a Swedish car company. While Gustaf Larson hired young mechanics to assemble cars, Assar Gabrielsson studied the economic background for their vision. In the summer of 1925, Assar Gabrielsson was forced to use his own savings to fund a trial series of 10 passenger cars.

The vehicles were assembled at Galco's Stockholm plant with the involvement of SKF, which had a capital stake of SEK 200,000 in Volvo, and SKF also made Volvo a controlled but growth-oriented automobile company.

All work was relocated to Gothenburg and neighboring Hisingen, and SKF equipment was eventually relocated to Volvo's production site. Assar Gabrielsson identified 4 basic criteria that contribute to the successful development of a Swedish car company: Sweden was a developed industrial country; low wages in Sweden; Swedish steel had a solid reputation around the world; there was a clear need for passenger cars on Swedish roads.

Gabrielsson and Larson's decision to start manufacturing passenger cars in Sweden was clearly articulated and based on several business concepts:

- Production of Volvo passenger cars. Volvo will be responsible for both machine design and assembly work, and materials and components will be purchased from other companies;
- Strategically secure with major subcontractors. Volvo must find reliable support and, if necessary, partners in the field of rail transport;
- Concentration on export. Export sales began a year after the start of the conveyor production;
- Attention to quality.

Neither effort nor expense can be spared in the car building process. It's cheaper to get production right in the beginning than to allow mistakes and fix them at the end. This is one of the main tenets of Assar Gabrielsson. If Assar Gabrielsson was shrewd in business, then the brilliant financier and trader Gustaf Larson was a genius in mechanical engineering. Together, Gabrielsson and Larson oversaw Volvo's two main areas of business - the economy and mechanical engineering. The two people's efforts were based on determination and discipline - two qualities that were often the key to the success of business in industry during the first half of the 20th century. This was their common approach, which laid the foundation for Volvo's first and most important value - quality.

Volvo name

SKF was a serious guarantor of the production of the first thousand cars: 500 with a convertible top and 500 with a rigid. Since one of the main activities of SKF was the production of bearings, the name Volvo was proposed for the cars, which means "I roll" in Latin. Thus, 1927 was the year Volvo was born.

A symbol was needed to characterize his child. They have chosen steel and Swedish heavy industry since cars were made from Swedish steel. The "iron symbol" or "symbol of Mars" as it was named after the Roman god of war, was placed in the center of the radiator grille on the first passenger passenger car Volvo, and later on all Volvo trucks. The "sign of Mars" was tightly attached to the radiator using the simplest method: a steel rim was attached diagonally across the radiator grill. As a result, the diagonal stripe has become a reliable and well-known symbol of Volvo and its products, in fact one of the strongest brands in the automotive industry.

When the Volvo P1800 sports car was 50 years old, the Swedish automaker decided to "modernize" the car. True, only on paper - no one is going to launch mass production of the modernized version of the model, drawn by Volvo's chief designer Christopher Benjamin.

At the same time, some experts note that such a car could well find its buyer. Commercial success would be based on the glory of the original P1800 sports car, which was considered the most attractive Volvo in the history of the Swedish brand. The exterior of the Volvo P1800 coupe in 1957 was created by designer Pelle Pettersson, who at that time worked in the Italian studio Pietro Frua. At first, the Swedes were going to start production of this model at the German enterprise Karmann, owned by the Volkswagen concern, but the disagreements that arose during the negotiations led to the need to find another partner. As a result, the serial production of the car began only in 1961, while cars were assembled in the UK, at the Jensen plant.

The first Volvo P1800s were powered by a 100 horsepower gasoline engine, but in 1966 it was replaced by a 115 horsepower unit. In addition to the coupe, the car could be ordered in cabriolet and station wagon bodies. The total circulation of P1800 for 13 years amounted to 37.5 thousand copies.

In parallel, Volvo begins to produce its first trucks, which were based on the same "Jacob".

So, starting from the 30s of the twentieth century, Volvo presents all the new introductions to mechanical engineering. A new six-cylinder engine was invented, tested and put into production, brake pads are installed on all 4 wheels, interior noise insulation, a muffler is installed, a radiator grille appears - and after all these innovations, the power of the car does not drop in any way! Unsurprisingly, the company is weathering the global economic crisis. Before World War II, Volvo delights its customers with an aerodynamic body.

The 40s passed under the sign of the World War. But Volvo does not lose ground, but on the contrary - it keeps afloat, invents new innovations. Having survived the war and finished the production of car modifications for military needs, Volvo returns to the production of civilian cars. The PV444 model, after all the modifications, conquers the market. The company is increasing its production and, therefore, the export of cars.

In the 50s, Volvo puts a lot of emphasis on safety. Brakes and seat belts are being improved. A special committee is being set up to study various accidents.

In 60 - 70 years. the company enters into agreements with DAF and Renault, which increase the productivity and power of vehicles. New modifications and models are being released - Amazone, models 240 and 345. In the 80s, the production of cars per year reaches the 400 thousandth mark! It should not be forgotten that the company continues to be concerned about safety, as evidenced by numerous awards for the modification of the seat belt - the world's first three-point belt that improves safety by 50%.

The 90s brought success to the company again. We have established relations with the French company Renault in the field of production of cars, trucks and buses; a lucrative agreement was signed with Mitsubishi and the Dutch government to create a new brand. But the main fact of this decade is the release of the 960, which was equipped with an automatic transmission. The new car has been modified with the help of Japanese colleagues from Mitsubishi and has a nice design.

At the moment, the Volvo brand is a safety brand. Popular models such as S40, S60, S80, V70, XC70, XC90 drive along the streets. Cars are chosen for comfort, safety and reliability. Every year, the brand pleases with novelties and innovations, both in the field of security and the field of reliability, robots of the car. And besides this, Volvo produces reliable motors for boats and ships.

Now let's look at the history of Volvo in chronological order:

1924 - the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating the first machine-building plant in Sweden.

1927 - after three years of preparation, the first car of the Volvo brand - OV4 "Jakob" is released, 300 cars are assembled.

1937 - release of new similar models - PV51 and PV52, 1800 cars were produced.

1940s - modernization of vehicles for military needs, then workers' strike, lack of materials. Design and assembly of PV444, an average of 3000 cars are produced per year.

1953 - the release of a new family car - the Volvo Duett.

1954 - an unprecedented step by the company - a 5-year warranty is issued for a car! The first Volvo sports car is produced, which never became fashionable.

1956 - The Amazon brand is released.

1958 - the export of Volvo cars reaches 100 thousand.

1959 - an event occurred that later made Volvo considered the safest car - the three-point seat belt was invented.

1960-1966 - presented the new cars Volvo 1800 and Volvo P 144, which were rightfully considered the safest cars in the world.

1967 - the child seat was modernized, now it can be placed against the movement.

1974 - the Volvo 240 was launched, which included all types of safety that existed at that time.

1976-1982 - the company produces Volvo 343 and Volvo 760, which conquer the market, Volvo is famous all over the world.

1985 - The first front-wheel drive car appears - the Volvo 480 ES sports car.

1990-1991 - Side impact protection developed and installed on the Volvo 850. The production of the Volvo 960 model, which had a 6-cylinder engine and a power of 240 hp, was launched.

1995 - the release of the famous cars Volvo S40 and V40.

1996 - Volvo now delights its customers with the excellent Volvo C70.

1998 - the release of the Volvo S80 is not only a comfortable car, but also one of the safest cars in the world, thanks to its lash protection.

1999 - Volvo buys out Ford, which still owns it.

2002 - The year of great changes in Volvo products. The first XC90 SUV was announced, the s40, s80 models were restyled. Volvo has already stepped firmly into the super-performance market with the S60R and V70R models. The company's design studio has been developing its own SUV for some time now. All leading European manufacturers, even Posrsche, have prepared or started to produce their parquet "jeeps". And finally, in August 2002, mass production of the XC90 model was launched.

2003 - At the Geneva Motor Show, Volvo unveiled its next concept car from the Volvo Designers Vision of the Future series. Concept car VCC (Versability Concept Car).
The lineup of the Swedish company Volvo has been supplemented by another four-wheel drive car - after the Volvo S60 and V70, the company's flagship, the Volvo S80 sedan, also received all-wheel drive. This vehicle uses a system similar to that used in the Volvo S60.

2004 - The appearance of the long-awaited new products of the Swedish company: cars Volvo S40 and Volvo V50. The new Volvo S40 is 50 mm shorter than its predecessor, but despite this, Volvo offers the features and qualities of the larger Volvo models.

2005 - Japanese company Yamaha released the first engine for the new Volvo XC90 V8.

2007 - Volvo's jubilee year kicked off with the Detroit Motor Show unveiling the new XC60 concept. Looking back and looking at the characteristic features of the cars that the company has produced over the past decades, the new car is hardly recognizable as a Volvo. The XC60 concept model is a striking crossover. The design of the vehicle features unusual solutions that give the XC60 a unique appearance. In the same year, Volvo launches new versions of its flagship models, the V70 and XC70, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show.

Well, about modern models, you probably all know from advertising articles in the media.

sources
http://www.tneo.ru
http://www.swedmobil.ru
http://avtomarket.ru
http://volvo.infocar.com.ua
http://www.volvoclub.ru

Volvo was founded in 1915 in the Swiss city of Gothenburg as a subsidiary of SKF, a bearing manufacturer. It was founded by former college classmates Assar Gabrielson, an employee of SKF and Gustav Larson. The idea to go into the car business came to young engineers in a restaurant, for beer and crayfish. After some time, SKF management approved their idea and allocated funds for the development and production of the first cars.

The name Volvo is derived from the Latin verb volvete, which means "I roll." The Volvo emblem is a symbol of iron and the god of war, Mars, who fought exclusively with iron weapons. The associations that this emblem should give birth to are reliability and durability.

In 1927, the first Volvo car appeared - a phaeton with an open top and a four-cylinder engine. It was called OV4, and also had an unofficial name - Jacob. It was not just the first Volvo car - it was the first car made in Sweden. The Volvo Jacob had a strong beech and ash chassis and suspension seats, which were rare in cars from the 1930s. Engine power 28 HP could accelerate the car to 90 km / h.

In 1928, Volvo released its first sedan - PV4, and two years later - its modification PV651, with a six-cylinder engine with a capacity of 55 liters. from. This model was used as a taxi in Sweden. In the same year, the first Volvo Type 1 truck rolled off the assembly line.

At the Stockholm Motor Show in 1944, Volvo unveiled the PV444. This passenger car became the “people's car” in Sweden due to its high quality and low cost. Originally it was planned to assemble 8000 cars, however, due to the high demand, Volvo produced 200000 cars. At the same exhibition, the company's first bus, the PV60, with a diesel engine was presented.

In 1951, Volvo switches to assembly line production. In the same year, the first Volvo Duete family car was released.

In the 1980s, the company began producing a new generation of cars. They featured a modern design and more powerful engines, which were refined to reduce fuel consumption. The main model of the 1980s was the 760 sedan, which was powered by six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. It accelerated to 100 km / h in 13 seconds.

Today Volvo is owned by the Chinese concern Geely, which bought it from Ford in 2010 for $ 1.8 billion. However, Volvo's headquarters remained in Gothenburg.

TechnologiesVolvo

Throughout its history, Volvo has focused on advancing safety technology.

The Swedish manufacturer was the first to equip its cars with three-point seat belts, laminated triplex windshields and lambda probes - sensors that help reduce emissions.

In the 1970s, Volvo developed the world's first child restraint system - a booster cushion and a special rear-facing child seat.

Much earlier than other companies, Volvo began to use its own innovative safety solutions on its cars - for example, the City Safety system, which prevents collisions at low speeds.

Volvo in motorsport

Since 2007, the team has been taking part in the World Touring Car Championship among touring cars. Best achievement - 11th place overall in 2011.

Periodically, Volvo exhibits its cars at the famous rally - the Dakar Marathon. In 1983, the team won the compact truck class.

In addition, the Volvo concern participates in the European Truck Racing Championship. Cars under the Renault brand, which are produced at Volvo factories, won in 2010 and 2011.

Interesting Facts

Volvo is the first company in the world to set up its own dedicated crash investigation team. Based on the data from this unit, new safety systems for Swedish cars are being developed.

Volvo P1800, assembled in 1966, entered the Guinness Book of Records as the car with the highest mileage. It amounted to 4,200,000 km.

King Carl Gustav of Sweden travels on the roads in a small hatchback.

Volvoin Russia

The history of Volvo in Russia began in 1973, when the state-owned company Sovtransavto purchased Swedish trucks for international transport. The brand representative office was opened in Russia in 1994. The V40 KOMBI models were especially popular in the 90s. In the 2000s, S-series sedans were the running models in Russia. Swedish cars have become popular among Russian motorists due to their classic design, high quality and reliability. These factors even influenced the formation of such a concept among motorists as Volvo as a driver. This was the name of a slow-moving motorist who observes the rules of the road, who values \u200b\u200bcomfort and safety.

The machines were well suited for operation in the difficult weather conditions of the country. In addition, their success was ensured by their low cost in comparison with cars of competing brands.

Today, a large selection of Volvo cars is presented on the Russian market: the C70 coupe with a hard folding roof, sedans and, station wagons V60 and V80, as well as all-wheel drive crossovers XC60, XC70, etc. Over the past six years, Russians have been buying about 20,000 Swedish cars a year. The most popular model is the XC90. Sales of this crossover account for about 30% of all models presented today.

The company has a small truck assembly plant in Zelenograd. In addition, in 2009, a Volvo Trucks plant was opened in the Kaluga Region, which produces up to fifteen thousand trucks a year. Volvo does not plan to open factories for the production of passenger cars in Russia yet.

Today, such a brand as Volvo (Volvo) is world famous. But how did it all begin?

Vovlo: the history of the brand

The history of Volvo began in 1924 with a meeting of college classmates Assar Gabrielson and Gustav Larson. Together they founded a car company. They were helped in this by SKF, a bearing specialist.
Their first brainchild, the Volvo OV4 / Jacob, was created in 1927. It was a convertible, equipped with a 4-cylinder petrol engine. A little later, they released a sedan and its extended version. As a result, about one and a half thousand cars were sold in two years.
When Gunnar Ingelau comes to the position of the president of the concern, the dawn of its activity dawns for the company. Things were going uphill. The export of Swedish cars to the United States of America was established.
Production also increased. Innovative technologies were introduced, such as the three-point seat belts designed by Niels Ivar Bohlin. The braking system and crumple zones have also been improved.

Volvo: country of origin

The history of the Volvo brand began in Sweden. When interviewing bystanders to the question: “Volvo - whose car? Country of origin of this brand? " the results were as follows:
70% - Germany;
20% - Sweden;
15% - USA;
5% - do not know the answer to this question.

The Volvo concern today

In 1999, the concern sells passenger car factories to Ford. And even later, in 2010, Ford Motor sells the brand to the Chinese company Geely. Volvo's history has gone through more than one crisis. But, having survived them, the brand expanded production. In the automotive industry, it redesigned and left the production of passenger cars. Today on the market you can see a wide range of products and services under the Volvo brand:
cars (trucks, buses, etc.);
engines;
automotive equipment;
construction equipment;
space components.
Many people associate the Volvo car brand with good safety and build quality. Combines great style, power and reliability. "I'm rolling!" - the name of the brand is translated in such a way that it fully justifies it. Anyone who is or was the owner of a car of this brand recommends it to others.

Volvo Aktiebolaget is a Swedish company that produces cars and trucks, as well as engines for various purposes, a variety of agricultural, forestry and household appliances. The headquarters is located in Gothenburg.

In the Stockholm restaurant Sturehof on July 25, 1924 - the day that is called Jacob's day in the Swedish calendar - the decision was made to create a Volvo. The first prototype of the car, prepared by the founders of the company, Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson, was called Jakob, and the maximum number of Swedish-made components was used in its creation. The start of the enthusiasts turned out to be successful, and since 1927, a company was founded to produce cars of the Volvo brand (from the Latin volvo - I roll). In Sweden, 10 thousand cars were sold by 1935.

The first trucks were produced in 1928, and since 1931 the company has been a leader in the production of heavy trucks in Europe.

In the early 1940s, the company developed the relatively inexpensive Volvo PV36 and Volvo PV51, which became popular in Sweden. The war prevented the sale of these models in Europe, but in the early post-war years powerful advertising campaigns brought the company fame in Europe and America. The post-war Volvo PV44 model was the leader in Sweden in terms of sales until 1953 and became the basis of subsequent hits - PV 444 and PV 544. The presentation of the first mass-produced Volvo car - PV 444 - took place in 1944 at the famous Volvo show at the Royal Tennis Hall in Stockholm. Also on display was the PV60, the first diesel bus, and many other new products.

In 1953, the presentation of the first real Volvo station wagon, the Duett, took place. While the Duett was probably more suited to small businesses, it marked the beginning of Volvo's focus on family cars.

1956 saw the release of the Volvo P 120 (marketed in the Scandinavian countries under the name Amazon). This car was distinguished by a pronounced feminine outlines. The novelty soon surpassed PV in popularity.

1958 Gunnar Andersson wins the European Rally Championship with a PV 544. In 1965 the Volvo brand won the World Rally Championship.

Volvo became the first company in the world to install a three-point seat belt in a production car in 1959. The creator of the new seat belt, Niels Bohlen, has received many awards, but more importantly, this belt has saved millions of lives.

The range of products expanded and in 1959 the Volvo P 1800 sports coupe appeared.

In 1966, the Volvo 144 was released - "the safest car in the world", which received the title "Car of the Year" in the Scandinavian countries.

In 1974, the Volvo 240 was presented - more modern and safer than the 140 series cars. It remained on sale until 1993 and was produced in the amount of 2.8 million copies.

The Volvo 343 was launched in Holland in 1976, an important new model with a unique transmission called the "Rem-Johan" (Belt-Johan). At first, the car had certain shortcomings, but over time, "childhood diseases" were cured, and the model gained popularity.

Volvo is the first car manufacturer in the world to introduce a catalytic converter and lambda probe in 1976.

In 1982, the Volvo 760 became a worldwide success. At that time, due to the changing trends in the market, the company was experiencing difficulties. The Volvo 760 was followed by the more massive, "democratic" 740 models, which quickly conquered Sweden and other countries.

1985 Holland launched the Volvo 480 ES, a striking sports coupe that became Volvo's first front-wheel drive car. It was followed by the Volvo 440 in 1988, and a little later - the Volvo 460 sedan.

The Volvo 960 and 940 were introduced in 1990. The Volvo 960 had an aluminum six-cylinder engine assembled at the new engine plant in Skovda and developed no less than 240 hp. The car quickly entered into a battle with rivals from the "luxury" class - primarily German. The Volvo 940, like the earlier 740 and 240 models, has become the people's car.

In 1991 the car of the Volvo family - 850 entered the market, which was a great success. With SIPS and other innovations, Volvo has shown what a reliable side impact protection system looks like.

In 1994, Volvo released a completely new version of the Volvo 960.

The Volvo Born plant in 1995 launched new contenders for success - the Volvo S40 and V40.

In 1996, the Volvo C70 Coupe is presented to the public. This coupe, followed by the Volvo C70 Cab, was assembled at the Uddevalla plant, which Volvo owned jointly with Tom Walkinshaw Racing.

1997 The V70 Cross Country car is released. In 2000, the second generation Volvo V70 2000 is released, created on a large platform. At the same time, the Volvo Cross Country car appeared.

The Volvo S80, which was shown at 272 hp, plus the IC inflatable curtain and the WHIPS whiplash protection system, are the world's first safety devices of this type and in 2000 it was voted the safest car in the world.

In 1999, the passenger car division of Volvo Cars was sold to the Ford Motor Company.

In 2000, the third model created on a large platform was released - the sporty Volvo S60.

In Detroit in 2002, the premiere of the SUV - Volvo XC90 took place.

Volvo has gained a reputation as a manufacturer of expensive, prestigious, reliable and safe cars (the company's role in the development and implementation of modern security systems is widely known, for which the company has repeatedly won international awards).



In 2002, at the Detroit Auto Show, the Swedish car company Volvo presented its new brainchild - the mid-size crossover Volvo XC90. The car was built on the P2 platform. After the presentation of the car, the popularity of it has increased greatly. Russian motorists really liked this crossover. But, before buying a car, buyers are interested in where they assemble the Volvo XC90 for the domestic market? For some time, this car model was assembled at a Swedish factory located in the city of Gothenburg. But, after the crisis "covered" Europe, the production of the crossover was moved to China in the city of Chengdu. The enterprise was opened here back in 2010 and cars are being assembled to this day. It turns out that on the Russian market you can buy a car of Chinese assembly.

The car underwent its first restyling in 2006. Our compatriots can purchase a Swedish crossover with a gasoline or diesel engine. The car turned out to be elegant, modern and practical. It seems to have been created specifically for use on our roads, since it has excellent cross-country ability. But, if this car is good in everything else, let's figure it out.

Features of the "Swede"

The manufacturer has thought out the interior of the crossover to the smallest detail. There is plenty of space here, passengers will feel comfortable and comfortable.

The dashboard includes:

• multimedia system
• gsm phone
• auxiliary function management system
• air conditioning system.

There are also additional buttons on the steering wheel with which the driver can control and adjust the vehicle's systems. Where the Volvo XC90 is produced for Russia, they try to adapt the car to our roads as much as possible. For rear seat passengers on the rear pillars, the manufacturer installed audio control units. The second row of seats can comfortably accommodate three adults. Each seat in the car is adjustable and has a folding backrest.

The third row consists of full-size seats, they can be adjusted, thereby significantly increasing the volume of the luggage compartment. The crossover dimensions are: 4800 mm × 1890 mm × 1740 mm. The maximum speed is 210 kilometers per hour. It will take 9.9 seconds to accelerate the car to the first hundred with "mechanics". with "automatic" - 10.3 seconds. It is difficult to call a crossover economical in terms of fuel consumption. In the city, an SUV consumes 16.1 liters of gasoline.

The technical side

The first generation Volvo XC90 was equipped with four power plant options:

• base 2.5-liter gasoline (210 hp)
• diesel 2.4-liter (163 and 184 hp)
• gasoline 4.4-liter (325 hp).

The second generation crossovers were equipped with engines that had undergone some changes. One of the two gasoline engines has become much more economical in terms of gasoline consumption. And the diesel engine began to produce two hundred horsepower. Where the Volvo XC90 is produced, they know how important it is to make the car accessible to more people.

Therefore, every next restyling had a positive effect on the crossover itself. After the next update, which took place in 2013, the manufacturer reduced the number of motors to two. Remained 2.5-liter petrol and 2.4-diesel. Today, on the Russian market, buyers can purchase a crossover in three trim levels and with two engines to choose from. The cost of the basic version of the car varies from 1,800,000 to 1,976,000 rubles. Even the simplest crossover has a good "stuffing":

• parktronic
• climate control
• anti-theft system
• heated exterior mirrors
• immobilizer
• cruise control
• external machine lighting
• audio system
• seventeen-inch disks.

Prices for cars in the "Executive" configuration range from 1,999,000 to 2,196,000 rubles. There is also a crossover Volvo XC90 "R-Design", its cost ranges from 1,899,000 to 2,096,000 rubles.

Disadvantages of the Volvo XC90

Any budget or expensive vehicle has its pros and cons. Manufacturers, of course, try to make the car as comfortable as possible, satisfying the majority of buyers. But, this does not happen, there are always people who are dissatisfied with the car, even if it is a Swedish crossover. Today, where the Volvo XC90 is assembled, some mistakes are made that bring discomfort to the owners and passengers of this car. The disadvantages of the crossover include:

• problem gearbox
• rapid wear of the rear tires
• engine noise when driving.

Some crossover owners are unhappy with the sounds of the diesel engine during operation. The noise of this variant of the power unit is slightly higher than normal. The 2005-2006 models were sold exclusively with an automatic transmission, which, unfortunately, often breaks down. The manufacturer did not fit the gearbox parts well, in general, poor-quality assembly, this is the reason for the rapid failure of this element of the car.

Most of all, this problem happens with the Volvo XC90 T6 model. Also, many owners on various forums are unhappy with the quality of the rear wheels of the car. They wear out very quickly, regardless of the area of \u200b\u200buse. The jamb seems to be not strong, but for that kind of money, I would like it not to be.