Volvo manufactured the 850 from 1991 until 199,7 with a facelift in 1994. Our blue Swede is a facelifted example, with the new grille, bumpers, and alloys.
The wing at the back and sporty alloys were standard, and so were the somewhat odd mudflaps behind the front wheels.
Specifications
The Volvo 850 Turbo was the second-fastest 850 after the T-5R and R. It was powered by a five-cylinder turbocharged 2.4-liter petrol engine with an output of 193 hp and 270 Nm. It was fast, with a 225 km/h top speed and a 0-100 acceleration in 7.8 seconds.
Volvo didn’t officially sell the 850 in China, so how this black Swede ended up in the capital is a mystery, but I guess it is an ex-diplomatic car. Keeping an 850 alive must be hard, as parts and expertise are hard to get. The engine, however, can go a zillion miles…
Over the years, I have seen probably a dozen Volvo 850’s in China, and in recent years it has reached some sort of a cult status. I know a shop in Beijing that was restoring two 850’s, it took them ages because they had to source parts via eBay.
R-badge is not Volvo factory but a rather cool after market badge made by a UK company called Something Magic. Turbo badge below the light.