Volvo 850 racks up quarter of a century

It's not perhaps the first Volvo that springs to mind in connection with words like 'icon' and 'heritage', but the 850 was the start of something big for the safety-focused Swedish brand.

In 2016 the 850 turns 25 – today, in fact. While it seems unexceptional measured against the Audi 100 from the same era – also a range of front-wheel drive sedans and wagons powered by a five-cylinder engine – the 850 marked a huge turning point for Volvo. Prior to the arrival of the 850, Volvos were previously known exclusively for their rear-wheel drive configuration. Even the tiny, Dutch-built 340 and 360 models were rear-wheel drive.

By migrating to front-wheel drive, the 850 flagged a change of direction for Volvo – and a willingness to embrace modernity.

Developed from Volvo's Galaxy project – so named apparently because Volvo was reaching for the stars at the time – the 850 was the Volvo that introduced an all-wheel drive alternative to the basic front-wheel drive models.

It's probably remembered best for its remarkable performances – in wagon form as well as sedan – contesting the British Touring Car Championship.

Work on the 850 began as long ago as 1978, according to Volvo. Project Galaxy also conceived another front-wheel drive model, the 400 series, which replaced the rear-wheel drive 300 series.

Volvo launched the 850 GLT at the Stockholm Globe Arena in June 1991, with the slogan "A dynamic car with four world-firsts". In addition to the transverse five-cylinder engine (Audi's was longitudinal), the 850 also introduced Volvo's Delta-link rear axle, Side-Impact Protection System (SIPS) and self-adjusting front seat belts.

According to Volvo, a specific goal in developing the 850 GLT was to produce a car that would feel "lively" to drive and with an engine note that was sportier than the norm for Volvo models. The five-cylinder engine was essentially the DOHC 3.0-litre straight six that powered the 960 model with one less cylinder and turned 90 degrees for the transverse mounting.

Two years later the wagon joined the sedan in Volvo showrooms. As with other Volvo wagons, the 850's luggage compartment was designed for maximum utility – optimal load-carrying capacity, in other words. As a consequence, the wagon was every bit as angular as the sedan, but also introduced tail lights in the D pillars, another design element that's commonplace in Volvo wagons and SUVs now, but wasn't at the time. This was not a first for Volvo, though, as Toyota had adopted the concept for its AE95 Corolla wagon a few years earlier.

Despite its squared-off looks, the 850 wagon ('Estate') won a couple of design awards.

A year after launching the 850 Estate, the T-5R model made its debut. Finished exclusively in yellow and powered by a turbocharged five-cylinder engine, the 850 T-5R rode on 17-inch alloy wheels and featured a square exhaust and different aerodynamic add-ons. Volvo chose to build just 2500 cars, but those sold out in a couple of weeks, prompting the manufacturer to build two more 2500-unit batches – first an all-black batch and then dark green.

During the same year – 1994 – Volvo took to the track, campaigning the 850 Estate in the British Touring Car Championship. Prepared and entered by Tom Walkinshaw Racing, the two wagons were driven by Rickard Rydell and Jan Lammers. Due to rule changes in 1995, Volvo switched from the 850 wagon to the sedan. Rydell took out third place in the championship that year.

Also in '95, Volvo pioneered side-impact airbags in the 850, claimed to be a world first for a mass-produced passenger car. All-wheel drive followed a year later, and was a constant system, driving to the rear wheels through a viscous coupling. Powering the all-wheel drive variants was a light-pressure turbocharged engine. Volvo subsequently developed the first V70 XC models from this car.

In 1997, Volvo migrated to a new naming system for its models. The square-rigged cars of yore were being gradually phased out, although the 960 sedan continued as the S90 – a name that has just been revived for an all-new model. A major upgrade to the 850 for 1997 coincided with a change of badge to S70 (and V70 for the Estate version).

Just as the 850 was a game changer for Volvo, and sold nearly 1.4 million vehicles, it also marked the end of an era for cubist styling at Volvo. Every Volvo model that followed the 850 has been a new example of styling outside the box.