Volvo 440/460
Volvo 440 (1988-1993)
The Volvo 440 was the hatchback version of the 400 series ( 440/460/480 ), which was manufactured by the summer of 1988 until the end of 1996.
He was with petrol and diesel engines from 1.6 to 2.0 liters ( 57-88 kW/78-120 PS) available that were based on Renault engines and were also built at Renault, but the Porsche Development Center in Weissach were refined for technically Volvo. ABS was available as an option. The top 440 GLT had a ABS with ASR.
Was built the vehicle in the former DAF plant in Born ( The Netherlands) by the company NedCar. The greatest demand was the 440. Using the 1.8i engine, made of 66 kW (90 hp)
In autumn 1993, the 400 series of technical and visual facelift has undergone so that some things different to the first release. These terms are not used by Volvo, for Volvo speaks from the revision of the model bodyguard. At the same time, the passive safety of the cars was improved, especially against lateral collisions. Anti -lock braking system (ABS ), Driver and automatically height-adjustable front seatbelts with pre-tensioners were mechanical henceforth standard.
The optics of the types 440 and 460 has been changed (similar to 850) from the more angular design (similar to the 700 ) on a rundlicheres style. For this purpose, inter alia, the hood / radiator, front and rear lamp units and the bumper coverings were changed.
From model year 1994, there was also a turbo diesel engine with intercooler and oxidation catalyst with 66 kW ( 90 PS) in the version for the German market. Manufacturer was also the company Renault.
As standard there was a produced by Renault five-speed manual gearbox. For an extra charge for certain engine versions, there was a four-speed fully automatic ( manufacturer: ZF ) or a continuously variable automatic with full thrust belt (similar to his time at Fiat system ).
As of 1993, the petrol versions of the Euro -2 standard were made possible by recoding. The diesel engine achieves only € 1, but can be retrofitted, so the classification is reached € 2.
The 400 series featured an very safe driving behavior and good for the class of vehicle passive safety at a relatively lightweight body. The rear axle was derived from the design office of Lotus. It is interesting in the 400 series, that here the first sports coupe 480 (actually shooting brake ) came in the spring of 1986 to the market and in the summer of 1988 until the 440 hatchback, the chassis is exactly the same. The notchback variant 460 was followed in early 1989 for the conservative clientele, but not in all countries. From the low curb weight up to a low fuel consumption, which is also only in the petrol engines in the medium from 7.5 to 9 liters per 100 km.
The 440 there was never factory station wagon. The Belgian company ATC designed a conversion kit, which was constructed based on the original tailgate of the 440 GRP. According to ATC 200 of these combined flaps were produced, of which 150 went to the German market, the rest was delivered mainly in the Netherlands. General distributor for Germany, the company was Bieber, who was also known for their modifications of the VW Beetle ( Bieber - Cabriolet ). The flap was placed on the market in 1994; all ATC station wagons until the fall of 1993 are later retrofits, as well as the vehicle shown on the Toncar site built there long.
A similar flap supplied ATC and its predecessor company for the Renault 25 ( gave it as an original accessory ). This predecessor company was also responsible for the construction of the 480 convertible prototype.
Finally, the construction of the ATC station wagons to pressure from Volvo was hired because Volvo had filed suit against ATC.
Rear view
Volvo 440 (combi conversion )