Volvo 460

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Volvo 460
Pre-facelift Volvo 460
Manufacturer Volvo Cars
Production 1989-1996
Predecessor Volvo 360
Class Small family car
Body style 4-door sedan
Length 4.40 m
Width 1.68 m
Height 1.40 m
Curb weight 993-1069 kg

The Volvo 460 is the saloon version of the Volvo 440. It was produced in the Netherlands. The 460 was preceded by Volvo 360 and succeeded by Volvo S40. It was introduced in the autumn of 1989, three years after the Volvo 480 coupé and one year behind its near-twin, the 440. During its seven-year production period, it sold 220,415 units.

It was a 4-door front wheel drive sedan and used many components from the already-successful Volvo 480, including floorplan, front and rear suspension, engines, transmission and braking systems. It was nearly identical to the Volvo 440, apart from the rear. Anti-lock brakes were available as an option. Both the Volvo 440 and 460 had a facelift in 1994 which included a new bonnet and nose, bringing its appearance inline with other contemporary Volvo models.

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[edit] Similarity to the Volvo 440

In truth, the mechanics, the engines and the bodywork are so similar, that the 440 and 460 could be considered basically versions of the same car. Apart from the obvious difference of the 440 being a hatchback and the 460 a saloon car, the 460 was a mere 9 centimetres longer. All the rest was so identical any of the bodyparts could be interchanged as if it were the same model. Volvo abandoned this similarity when the 400 series was replaced with the S40 and the V40. The hatchback version ceased to exist, leaving only a saloon car (the S40) and a estate version was added (the V40), which didn't exist in the 400 series.

[edit] Engines

The Volvo 460 had a 1.7-litre Renault engine at launch, carried over from the Volvo 300 Series; this was available between 1989 and 1992. This 1,721 cm³ powerplant sported 106 bhp an announced top speed of 185 km/h, which was marginally superior to some of its contemporary counterparts of the same class, such as the Volkswagen Passat or the Opel Vectra (their 1.8-litre engine only had 90 bhp).

There was also 1.7 turbocharged engine with intercooler. This version offered 122 bhp and an announced top speed of 200 km/h. These kind of performances put it on par with higher-end 1.8-litre engines, such as the BMW 318 or 518 of the time, and on par with a host of other 2.0-litre engines of the time.

From 1992, the engines offered were substantially different; they were 1.6i, 1.8i and 2.0i naturally aspired petrol engines and 1.7 litre turbo with ; 1.6 was equipped with multipoint-injection, 2.0 with both singlepoint- and multipoint-injection & 1.8 only with singlepoint-injection.

There were also few carburettor-equipped engines but they were not very popular.

Diesel versions were available; a 1.9-litre Renault turbodiesel was offered - this was badged as either TD or Turbo Diesel, depending on which European market the car was sold in.

From 1994, the engines got slightly more powerful.

[edit] Trim levels

The cars comprising the Volvo 400 series all had interior design that was, in essence, identical. High-quality materials and padding gave the inside of the car agreeable finishing, durability and a lower propensity to become rattling and noisy as the car got older.

Just like the 440, early cars were available in GL, GLE and GLT trims.

The GL trim level was basic, and only available in selected countries. The difference from this basic version to the GLE level were few, such as a clock instead of a tachometre on the main dashboard, and no air conditioning. As far as the engine went, it had a double-bodied carburettor instead of the electronic injection of other versions of the 460, giving it only 90 bhp.

GLE was plush, and included the aforemetioned features absent on the GL trim level, but was, however, still far from the level of the GLT/Turbo versions. It also had ABS and airbag as an option.

GLT and Turbo were the 'luxury' trim level. This level included leather upholstery, sunroof, an onboard computer, ABS, airbag, and even heated seats.

From 1992, the range was the same for a year-and-a-half. Then, from 1994, the range was totally changed: base, S, SE and CD trims. This line-up continued until 1996, when the Volvo S40 and Volvo V40 replaced the line-up.

Volvo Cars, a subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company since 1998, road car timeline, 1960s-present  v • d • e 
Type 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Small family car 544 66
340
360
480 C30
440 / 460
S40 / V40 S40 / V50
Compact executive car Amazon / 120 / 130
140 240 850 S70 / V70 S60 / V70
Duett 740 940
Executive car 164 760 960 S/V90 S80 S80
260
Sport P1800 1800S 1800E 1800ES 242 GT 240 Turbo 850 R S/V70 R S60/V70 T5 S60/V70 R
Coupé 262C 780 C70 C70
Crossover XC90

[edit] Sources

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