Volvo 480
| Volvo 480 | |
|---|---|
1992 Volvo 480 TwoTone
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Volvo |
| Production | 1986–1995 |
| Assembly | Born, Netherlands (NedCar) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact car (C) |
| Body style | shooting-brake |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Related | Volvo 440/460 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,502.7 mm (99 in) |
| Length | 4,258 mm (168 in) |
| Width | 1,710 mm (67 in) |
| Height | 1,318 mm (52 in) |
| Curb weight | 998 kg (2,200 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Volvo P1800 |
| Successor | Volvo C30 |
The Volvo 480 is a car that was produced in Born, Netherlands, by Volvo from 1986 to 1995. It was the first front-wheel drive car made by the automaker. The 480 was available in only one body style on a automobile platform related to the Volvo 440/460 five door hatchback and four door sedan models.
It features an unusual four seat, three door hatchback body, somewhere between liftback and estate in form. The 480 was marketed as a coupé in Europe starting in 1986, and was originally intended to be marketed in the United States as a 2+2 "sports wagon" in the fall 1987, although these plans were cancelled.
Volvo took six years from the time the 480 was conceived, through its development, and finally brought to production readiness. The press launch was on October 15, 1985, but the 480 was first put on public show at Geneva in March 1986, becoming available to the buyers in 1987.
The automaker described the car as a four seater with "sporty styling" and the first front wheel driven Volvo. The press described it as having a "sleek hatch body" in contrast to Volvo's traditional "boxcar look". The 480 was the first Volvo of its style since the P1800ES, and the last until the unveiling of the C30. All of these models featured a frameless glass hatch for cargo access.
The 480 was produced in Born, Netherlands, at the factory that built DAF cars, including the DAF 66 based Volvo 66, and later, the Volvo 300 Series. The 480 shared the platform of the Volvo 440 and 460 models. It was originally planned for the North American market (evidenced by its front and rear side markers, not used on European automobiles).
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