The Volvo that was a jet fighter
01/28/2022
Turbine propulsion for cars was only a brief aberration of the jet age. The last project in this direction was terminated unsuccessfully by Chrysler in 1963 - so much for the prevailing theory. But in 1978, Volvo, a brand that was anything but avant-garde, made a new attempt to domesticate the jet engine for use in passenger cars. As you might imagine, given the fact that we still only burn fuel in reciprocating piston and Wankel engines today, it was not a success.
In 1993, they went one step further: the Swedes paired the turbine with an electric motor, which was intended to compensate for the moderate economy in the partial load range and, above all, the sluggish response of the turbine. This made the two Volvo 850s in which the system was tested two of the first cars with hybrid drive and several years ahead of their time. Optionally, they could also be driven purely electrically and even recuperate. Nevertheless, Volvo abandoned the project after only 4000 test kilometers. The fuel consumption was simply too high, even with electric assistance.
Incidentally, one of the two turbine prototypes will be auctioned by Bonhams on February 3. The estimated price is between 60,000 and 80,000 euros. That's quite a lot for a Volvo 850 - but how often do you get the opportunity to buy a car with a turbine drive? SOCÉMA-Grégoire and Fiat Turbina are not for sale.
