Mechanical all-wheel drive has been available in Volvo series models for 20 years. Today, a total of 36 percent of Volvo customers opt for a model with all-wheel drive.
The first Volvo with all-wheel drive was the Volvo 850, introduced in 1996, with a 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo engine, 142 kW (193 hp) and five-speed manual transmission. The Volvo V70, which was largely based on the Volvo 850, received an all-wheel drive system from 1997. In the same year, the Swedish manufacturer produced its first model, the Volvo V70 Cross Country. A new vehicle concept at the time with a robust design and high functionality that is now a familiar sight on and off the beaten track.
"Our cars are known for what we call 'framkomlighet' in Swedish - the ability to take us wherever we want to go, regardless of the weather conditions," says Henrik Green, Senior Vice President for Research & Development at Volvo Cars."All-wheel drive is both a safety feature and a driving dynamics system, creating the conditions for a confident, balanced and enjoyable driving experience," adds Green.
