Engines

Technical information can be found here

All engines used in the 400-series were adapted Renault engines. The use of Renault engines was not strange as also the 300-series used French-engines. However they were adapted to meet Volvo standards. Al engines have four cilinders with only 2 valves per cilinder and with a single overheaded camshaft.

The first engine was the 1,7 liter used in the 480 ES. This engine was the basis for a great variaty of engines. First variaty in displacement (from 1,6 l. up to 2.0 l.), second variaty in from a technical point of view: carburators, mono-point injection, multi-point injection and the use of a turbo-compressor.

The strongest engine (and therefore offering the best performance) is the 1,7 l. turbo-engine. This was the first variant that was introduced, after doubts in the press whether the ordinary 1.7l. engine was strong enough for a car of the size of the 400´s. This engine offers 120 ps and this allows a maximum speed of 200 km/h.

Journalists asked a very long time for engines with larger displacement that 1,7 l. and as from 1993 a 2.0 l. engine became available. This engine offers an enormous amount of pulling power and is great fun to drive !

Only after the face-lift (from ´94) it was possible to fit in a diesel-engine (from ´95). This diesel engine was also originaly a Renault-engine.

The engines were build together with the gearbox and in combination with front-wheel drive this resulted in a very compact driving unit

Technical information can be found here