Volvo 262C
| Volvo 262C | |
|---|---|
1978 Volvo 262C Bertone
(with North American quad headlights) |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Volvo |
| Also called | Volvo Coupé |
| Production | 6622 |
| Model years | 1978-1981 |
| Assembly | Turin, Italy |
| Designer | Jan Wilsgaard |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class |
Mid-size luxury car Grand tourer |
| Body style | 2-door coupe |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related | Volvo 260 series |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
|
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Volvo 780 |
The Volvo 262C is the first luxury coupe made by Volvo. Based on the Volvo 200 Series, the 262C was built by Bertone in Turin for the 1977-1981 model years.
A team of American executives and engineers led by Henry Ford II had visited a Volvo factory in the mid-1970s and had brought Lincoln Continental Mark IVs to drive. The car generated interest among both the Volvo staff and the people living in the area. Without the facilities to spare on a low volume project, Volvo arranged with Bertone to design and build the coupe.
The drivetrain, suspension, floor pan, and many of the body panels of the 262C were taken directly from the Volvo 260 sedan, with Bertone building the roof pillars, roof pan, windshield surround, cowl, and the upper parts of the doors. The roof of the 262C is about 10 cm lower than that of the 260 sedan.
The 262C used the PRV engine, a V6 engine developed jointly by Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo. The engine used a Lambda-sond oxygen sensor system; this was the first use of this system on a production V engine.
Standard equipment included power windows and mirrors, central locking, full leather interior, power mirrors, cruise control, air conditioning, heated front seats, alloy wheels and electrically powered radio antenna. The only optional extras were a limited-slip differential, a choice of stereos, and the no-cost option of a Borg-Warner three-speed automatic instead of the four-speed manual with electrically operated overdrive. By 1981, the manual option had been deleted in the US.
Aimed mainly at the United States market, the 262C was Volvo's first entry in the luxury car market. About half of the annual production was earmarked for the United States. It competed against the Cadillac Eldorado and the Mercedes-Benz 280CE. 6622 cars were produced from 1978 to 1980.
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