Though it hasn’t been in production since 1996, the iconic Volvo 850 Series gave rise to many beloved Volvo models throughout the years, and you can still see its influence and design language in today’s Volvo lineup. Here at Smothers European Volvo, we wanted to celebrate (albeit, about a month late) the 25th anniversary of this landmark model, so here’s to appreciating where you’ve come from, while always looking toward where you’re going!
Happy 25th Birthday To The #Volvo 850! https://t.co/bLa5Xd7Bbw @volvoautoitalia @volvocarsglobal
— monicaesse (@monicaesse70) June 8, 2016
The Volvo 850 Series was born from a project aptly titled “Project Galaxy” because its lofty goals wre reaching for the stars. From the outset, the press called the Volvo 850 “the world’s safest car,” and in 1995 it brought another world-first in terms of safety: the Volvo 850 became the first mass-produced car to come with side-impact airbags. Safety innovation didn’t stop there, either. In 1996, the 850 AWD—the company’s first four-wheel drive car—launched and served as a pioneer for Volvo, the predecessor to Volvo’s current four-wheel drive XC models.
1996 also happened to be the 850 Series’ last production year, though the iconic car didn’t simply fade away. After undergoing some major upgrades, the model was rebranded as either the Volvo S70 (for the sedan models) or the Volvo V70 (for the estate models). While both of those models are no out of production, you can still find them on the roads, and if you’re curious about the lasting impact of the Volvo 850 series, here’s a great fact: a total of 1,360,522 cars were built in model versions originating from the 850 Series. Now that’s a legacy.
If you’d like to see how far the Volvo lineup has come in the past 25 years, come on in to see us in our beautiful showroom, found on 2881 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa, CA. Our friendly sales associates will gladly answer any questions you may have about our offering of new Volvo models, and when you find the model that checks all the boxes on your list, make sure to take it for a test drive!