1992 Volvo 240 Base Wagon, Runs Well, Needs Work, Great Engine And Transmission on 2040-cars

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Junkyard Gem: 1976 Volvo 244 DL

Volvo did well enough selling the PV444/544, Amazon and 140 in the United States, but it was the Volvo 200 Series that really launched Goteborg iron into the American big time. Introduced here as a 1975 model, the 200 stayed in production for nearly two full decades and remains the most instantly recognizable Swedish car ever made. Here's an early-production 244, found in a Denver-area car graveyard not long ago. The 200 Series could be considered an update of the late-1960s-vintage 140 Series, since it's essentially the same car from the A pillars back. The main difference between the two is the MacPherson strut front suspension in the 200 Series. Volvo went through several naming systems for U.S.-market 200 Series cars over the decades, with the initial one being the easiest to decipher: a three-digit number followed by a two-character trim-level designation. The first digit in the number represents the series, the second represents the number of engine cylinders and the third the number of doors. There were six-cylinder 262s, 264s and 265s sold in the United States from 1976 through 1981, powered by the same PRV V6 engine that went into the DeLorean DMC-12, so it's incorrect to refer to all 200 Series Volvos as 240s. This car is the best-selling member of the 200 family, with a four-cylinder engine and four doors. This is a fuel-injected 2.1-liter SOHC straight-four, rated at 98 horsepower and 110 pound-feet; the 1975 240s received the 2.0-liter pushrod engine from the 140. There were two transmissions available in the 1976 240s: a four-speed manual or a three-speed automatic. This car has the automatic. Even thought it's a base DL model, this car's first owner paid an extra $456 for air conditioning (about $2,580 in 2024 dollars), on top of the $500 premium for the automatic transmission ($2,829 after inflation). That pushed the cost for the car up to $7,551, or $42,717 in today's money. You could get a swanky new 1976 Buick Electra Limited four-door hardtop for just $6,852, but those sensible Volvo buyers knew it was worth paying a premium for genuine Scandinavian safety and build quality. European-market headlights were strictly forbjuden on American roads during the early Malaise Era, according to federal safety regulations, so Volvo had to install these unsightly sealed-beam rigs on their cars here.

Volvo announces design updates for XC40 Recharge and single-motor C40

Volvo announced a round of updates to the electric members of its portfolio. It gave the XC40 Recharge a subtle mid-cycle update that brings a new-look front end, among other changes, and it unveiled an entry-level version of the C40 Recharge with one electric motor. It takes a well-trained eye to differentiate the updated XC40 Recharge from the model that's currently in showrooms. Look closely and you'll notice that the lower part of the front bumper is more chiseled, the Thor's Hammer accents in the headlights are more, well, hammer-like, and the body-colored insert that replaces the gasoline-burning model's grille loses its frame. These changes bring the battery-powered crossover in line with the C40 Recharge and with the non-Recharge version of the XC40, which received the nip-and-tucked front bumper in November 2021. Volvo also notes that buyers will also have new upholstery choices, exterior colors, and wheel designs to choose from. XC40 Recharge models also gain pixel LED lighting technology. This system relies on individually-controlled LED elements to illuminate the road ahead without blinding other motorists; in a way, it occupies a middle ground between high and low beams. While this technology has been illegal here for many years, the NHTSA finished making the rules for adaptive headlights in February 2022 so they're on their way. Moving on to the C40 Recharge, a front-wheel-drive version with a single electric motor is now available in some markets as a cheaper alternative to the dual-motor all-wheel-drive model. It's fitted with a 69-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, and it offers a maximum driving range of about 270 miles on the relatively optimistic European testing cycle. Volvo notes that charging the pack from 10% to 80% takes about 32 minutes when it draws electricity from a fast charger, but the firm hasn't provided technical specifications (like horsepower). For context, the existing dual-motor C40 Recharge is equipped with a 78-kilowatt-hour battery and its powertrain is rated at 402 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. Its EPA-estimated driving range checks in at 225 miles, and it tips the scale at approximately 4,740 pounds. Volvo also restructured the trim level hierarchy in a bid to reduce complexity and make it easier for buyers to configure a car. Pricing for the updated 40-Series models hasn't been released yet, and neither car has been announced for the American market yet.

Driving a 1988 BMW M5 and the 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge | Autoblog Podcast #722

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Road Test Editor Zac Palmer. Some cars old and new here, with reviews of the 1988 BMW M5, 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge and 2021 Hyundai Palisade. In the news, Maserati revealed the 2023 Grecale SUV with a 523-hp twin-turbo V6. Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Autoblog Podcast #722 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we're driving 1988 BMW M5 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge Long-term 2021 Hyundai Palisade 2023 Maserati Grecale revealed Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related video: Volvo introduces 2022 C40 Recharge crossover