When you think of old-school Volvos – you know, those boxy designs that pre-date the more curvaceous models of today – what do you picture? The 240? The 850? Or do you think of the ultimate in squared-off Swedish design, the 760?

The model credited with saving Volvo was introduced in February, 1982, making it 30 years old this month. Reflecting on the occasion, Volvo looks back at the 760′s development, when it needed a car that would be reliable, efficient, durable, easily serviceable, quiet, somewhat attractive, and be a decent performer (in that order). The result was a rear-drive sedan four inches longer in wheelbase than the 240, yet a good 220 lbs lighter.

And that boxy design? That decision was as financial in nature as it was stylistic. After considering a number of design proposals, the final look was selected to be as cost-effective to produce as possible. In the end, those budgetary restrictions left us with a car that was, while not particularly exciting to behold, certainly an enduring icon of its time. Follow the jump to read the full retrospective, and flip through the images in the attached gallery.

Continue reading Volvo marks 30th anniversary of the 760

Volvo marks 30th anniversary of the 760 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A lot has happened in the last 56 years… mankind landed on the moon, the Cold War ended and General Motors managed to build 100 million small-block V8 engines.

First launched in 1955 with 265 cubic inches of displacement, the small block V8 has seen duty in nearly every memorable machine produced by Chevrolet in the last five decades. In addition to being the bread-and-butter engine in GM’s bread-and-butter brand, the small block has also been widely seen in the engine bays of various Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models in the States, as well as in Vauxhalls in the UK, Opels in the rest of Europe and Holdens in Australia.

While the current fourth-generation small-black V8 engine from GM doesn’t share much at all in common with its forebears, it’s still a tribute to a solid basic design architecture (4.4-inch bore centers, eight cylinders and overhead valves) that has remained a stalwart in power, affordability and efficiency.

The actual 100,000,000 engine will be a supercharged LS9 V8 that would normally be found in the engine bay of a Chevy Corvette ZR1, but this milestone powerplant will be kept and preserved by GM as part of its historical collection. Fittingly, the LS9, with 638 horsepower, is the most powerful engine ever offered by the automaker in a production vehicle.

In related news, GM has announced that its fifth-generation small block, due in the “near future” (perhaps the C7 Corvette?), will be blessed with a new direct-injection combustion system for enhanced efficiency. Naturally, it will still have 4.4-inch bore centers.

There’s plenty of cool statistical information in the press release and video after the break, so we suggest you check it out for yourself… especially if you belong to the camp that believes pushrods automatically equal antiquated technology.

Continue reading GM marks 100-millionth small-block engine built [w/video]

GM marks 100-millionth small-block engine built [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Australia has released a preview of what customers from Down Under can expect from the next-generation Territory. The automaker is using the new crossover to launch a massive refresh program, with 85 percent of the company’s wares receiving a significant update over the next 18 months. Along with a more stylish front fascia and aggressively-flared front fenders, the Territory is expected to bring a new turbo-diesel engine to the fray. Unfortunately, the Blue Oval hasn’t released any details on power figures or fuel consumption for any of the available power units in the 2011 Territory.

FoMoCo’s Australian arm has plenty of big changes headed its way. The company just recently introduced the 2011 Fiesta sedans and hatchbacks, and both the new Focus and global Ranger will be landing on the country’s shores within a few months. Needless to say, it’s a good time to be a Ford fan in Australia. Something tells us that the suits over at rival Holden are going to be scrambling to keep up the pace over the next year and a half. Hit the jump for the press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford marks out bold new Territory for Australia

Ford marks out bold new Territory for Australia originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Erik Carlsson, also known as Mr. Saab, is a rallying icon directly tied to the Swedish automaker’s lore. 50 years ago, Carlsson won his first British RAC rally title in a three-cylinder, 750 c.c. Saab 96. He went on to win the event two more times – in a row. Carlsson took podium positions for Saab in rallies around the world, and if you look at his racing history, it’s clear that Carlsson knows a thing or two about car control and motorsports. He has always driven Saabs and was even born in Trollhättan, the automaker’s home town. So, what better time to honor him than now with a limited-edition Saab 9-3? The Saab 9-3 Aero Carlsson is being produced by Saab Great Britain and only 96 are going to be made, so U.S. Griffinistas are sadly out of luck.

The racing legend was honored during a luncheon at the RAC Club in London. The special-edition 280-horsepower 9-3 was announced and then displayed alongside a classic 96. A pleased Carlsson noted:

“This is a great occasion for me, it has been wonderful to see so many old friends again, including Stuart [Turner] who did such a fantastic job reading the maps. I wouldn’t have won without his help. I also feel very honored to have a car named after me. Anyone who loves driving and is as passionate about Saab as I am, will be excited about getting behind the wheel.”

Hop the jump for the full press release and check out the high-res images below.

[Source: Saab]

Continue reading Saab marks 50th anniversary of Erik Carlsson’s first RAC win with special 9-3

Saab marks 50th anniversary of Erik Carlsson’s first RAC win with special 9-3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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