20 years of the Volvo 855 T5 R celebrated by Polestar

These days marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of one of the most cherished vehicles in the Volvo range in recent years.

We’re talking about the 855 T5 R, something of a forerunner to sporty estates. 20 years on, specialist Polestar pays it a heartfelt tribute.

Immediately after its launch back in 1994, the 855 T5 R became one of the fastest estates ever built, earning it worldwide fame that is still evident today in the number of followers and fans it can still attract.

Under its bonnet, the 855 T5 R housed a 5-cylinder inline engine with a 2.3-litre displacement which, thanks to a large turbocharger, produced 240 CV and 330 Nm. Those figures remain impressive today, but back then they caused a real sensation.

Capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 7 seconds, it reached a top speed of 245 km/h. It was paired with a 4-speed automatic gearbox which, undoubtedly, was no marvel of speed or smoothness, which leads us to believe that had it been fitted with a manual gearbox, its performance would have been even more brilliant.

After the 855, more models followed that succeeded that estate with its square shapes and sporty attitude. We’re talking about the V70 R, which boasted up to 300 CV, true road wolves. Today, Polestar continues to work on the sporty versions of Volvo, giving rise to great vehicles such as the V60 Polestar.

With a very sporty look, it nevertheless retains the practical qualities inherent in any Volvo estate, while also adding a 3-litre, 6-cylinder inline turbocharged engine. Also turbocharged, it produces 350 CV and 500 Nm, which, combined with all-wheel drive and a 6-speed automatic gearbox, allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, reaching a self-limited top speed of 250 km/h.

Source | Polestar

Technical specifications of this car

EstateVolvo V6011 versions · from 49,950 €