The content of the article:
- Volvo, 200 Series
- Saab 99 Turbo
- Koenigsegg CCR
- Saab 92
- Volvo Amazon
- Volvo P1800
- Scania-Vabis 3244
- Koenigsegg regera
- Volvo XC90
- Uniti
Sweden is a country with difficult terrain to drive and a harsh, cold climate. For a long time, the cars produced by Sweden remained unknown to the global automotive community. Now their cars will be distinguished by the perfect adjustment of safety and comfort, quality and price.
Once upon a time, at the beginning of the 20th century, Sweden favored American cars, which gained fame and popularity. But the "Americans" turned out to be too capricious, not adapted for the cold north and bad roads in Sweden.
1. Volvo, 200 Series
When Volvo began developing experimental safety cars, there were 82 safety requirements to be met.
In Volvo's 200 series, safety has become the alpha and omega, surpassing similar American developments in this indicator. The cars were equipped with steering wheels deviating from the driver and head restraints, airbags, heavy bumpers, and other high-tech inventions for the 70s of the 20th century, which "shoot" at the moment of impact.
A crash test with a frontal impact at 80 km / h confirmed that passengers received only non-fatal injuries.
The Swedes experimented with the appearance of the car and its "stuffing", achieving the perfect balance of quality and safety. The developments incorporated in the successful "two hundred" series served to create modern huge SUVs with rear wheel drive.
2.Saab 99 Turbo
The cars of this brand were the brainchild of the military aircraft manufacturer Svenska Aeroplan AB, as a result of which aviation performances were partially embodied in special aerodynamic developments that became the highlight of the Saab style.
Loud glory for the automaker came when, after two years of prototype testing at the 1967 auto show, the new 99 Saab model was presented to the public. The audience trembled, newspapers enthusiastically wrote about a miracle - an airplane on four wheels.
In 1978, as a result of experiments with different types of engines, Saab was able not only to turbo the engine, but also to achieve stable performance from it. Worldwide fame came to the Saab turbines, and as a result, to the 99 model, after it became clear that the car easily accelerates to three thousand rpm, and then easily moves at "snail" revolutions.
Acceleration was carried out to test 100 kilometers in 9.2 seconds with 143 hp involved. The SAAB 99 Turbo version with the additional letter S was practically a car for "pilots", since the water injection system, usual for military aircraft, gave an instant increase in power of about 15 hp, which made it possible to "fly away" from traffic lights faster than others ...
The turbocharged cars had a distinctive color feature that accentuated their "hot" nature - fashionable shades of metallic and bright red.
3. Koenigsegg CCR
Obsessed with the idea of creating a supercar, Christian von Königsegg began planning his future triumph in the 80s of the 20th century. Only the latest technology and maximum comfort, filigree clarity of lines and charisma - that was what needed to be embodied in the future supercar.
Having set a goal, Koenigsegg Automotive Ltd was able to quickly achieve results that put it on the same "weight" line with Lamborghini, McLaren and Ferrari.
Confirming the status of a supercar, the car was able to accelerate on the Italian Nardo track, specially created for high speed tests, up to 388 km / h. This was a very good result for 2005! And this despite the fact that the Koenigsegg CCR was not yet the strongest Ford Modular with a volume of 4.6 liters and a capacity of 817 hp. Today the model ranks among the fastest serial cars.
Equipped with a supercar of the highest category. Even in the basic configuration, the car is equipped with climate and traction control, an audio system, ABS and an immobilizer. The hood hides a powerful 806 hp V8 engine, a six-speed manual transmission is offered, but if the customer wants, the car can be equipped with a seven-speed one.
4. Saab 92
It was this car that Svenska Aeroplan AB launched into serial production for the first time. Even the very model number "92" was due to the existing order of account. Numbers 1 through 91 belonged to real planes.
The model was projected while the Second World War was in full swing in Europe, and the car hit the conveyor only in 1949, bearing some "military" features. For example, the first cars in this line sported khaki paint, for economy.
The traditional Saab trick, aerodynamics, in this model was also perfectly implemented in a streamlined body shape, thanks to which the usual two-piston engine with 25 hp. could work without strain. The car was manufactured with independent all-wheel suspension and had front-wheel drive.
According to the version of the American concern General Motors, announced in 2008, the Saab 92 became the best car of the concern. But here the Americans take other people's merits for themselves, because the Swedish company at the end of the 80s of the last century only sold them 50% of its shares. The final entry of the Swedes into the American carmaker took place in 2000.
5. Volvo Amazon
The car was presented to the public in New York at the 1959 International Auto Show and almost immediately became a "style icon" in the field of passenger and driver safety.
Equipped at the factory with three-point seat belts for the front seats, the model significantly enhanced the already high passive protection inherent in all cars of the Volvo line. By the way, the Soviet "Volga" of the 21st release, structurally, belts were not provided at all.
Aside from the increased safety work, this Volvo model was simple and elegant. The name was based on the idea of the strength and beauty of the warriors of antiquity - the Amazons. In its homeland in Sweden, the car was produced since 1956, and until 1959 inclusively existed in a two-tone color - buyers were fascinated by black / dark gray / ruby variations in body color combined with a light gray roof and light gray body with a coal-black roof.
Two more years later, this color was finally replaced by a single color. It became possible to make cars more powerful at the request of customers, reaching 85 hp due to a dual carburetor and a more accurate camshaft.
6. Volvo P1800
Having experimented with Amazon, Volvo has created a two-door car of the most aristocratic appearance. On the one hand, it subtly resembled the classics of the 60s of the European auto industry - the rear X-shaped pillar suggested the Zagato, the taillights hinted at the American Baroque.
And in general - the comparison, even if only in passing, with the Ferrari 250 GT and Aston Martin DB4 was already an excellent advertisement for a company that had never before dreamed of producing elegant sports cars!
The model is still one of the handsome cars made in Sweden. In addition, she initiated the Gran Turismo class. But the most important thing is that the car appeared on the set of The Saint series, emphasizing its elitism - after all, agent 007 chooses all the best for himself.
This model came off the assembly line equipped with M40 and M41 transmissions, reaching acceleration speeds of up to 190 km / h and starting from zero to hundreds of kilometers in 9.5 seconds.
7. Scania-Vabis 3244
Scania began with the merger of an unprofitable railway car company with a similar but prosperous British company. The “parental” orientation also determined the future of the “children”.
The truck went on sale at the end of the 20s of the last century, already "revised and supplemented" to three tonnes. In the truck, the bottom was sheathed with an all-metal sheet, the sides were wide, thick boards, reinforced with metal corners.
The overhead valve engine of the hard-working machine had six cylinders with 6.45 liters, using 85 hp in the process, but the steering wheel was located on the right.
The braking system was installed only on the rear wheels. In addition, the car was equipped with a bunch of useful equipment - a speedometer and ammeter, a clock, rear-view mirrors and a temperature sensor for oil.
For its time, the Scania-Vabis 3244 was very well equipped, rightfully considered one of the best trucks of the time.
8. Koenigsegg Regera
We pass from the past to the recent present. The new development of the ambitious company Koenigsegg made a big splash at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.
The hypercar favorably distinguished itself from similar developments of other automakers by the presence of an improved hybrid power plant, consisting of three electric motors, and an extremely atypical gearbox with only two positions - forward and backward movement.
The presence of rear-wheel drive slightly reduces the handling of the car at high speeds, but it has a positive effect on lightening the total weight of the hypercar.
Such a car weighs a little more than one and a half tons. The engine supplied for the hypercar is a five-liter twin-turbo V8 capable of developing 1500 hp. The electric motors have a power reserve of 60 km. Recharging is carried out either during braking, or as standard - from the socket.
When driving, this hypercar seems to be pressed into the ground, spreading out on it and starting from a place up to 100 km / h in 2.7 seconds, moving along the highway with a maximum speed of 410 km / h.
And while the Regera is by no means the fastest in the company's lineup, it does showcase the truly incredible potential of hybrids to further refine them.
9. Volvo XC90
This Volvo model celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2018. Despite such a long period from the release of the first generation car, it is still in demand, and its production continues, for example, in the PRC.
The crossover of this model is constantly being improved, combining all the latest developments in world technologies in the fields of fuel economy, safety and engine building under an aggressive and powerful body. The two-liter engine is capable of operating in various modifications on diesel fuel and gasoline.
Powertrains XC90 - four-cylinder two-liter and turbodiesel engines. Despite its size, the car consumes 5/6 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, depending on the type of engine. The most powerful modification of the XC90 received the letter T8 and a hybrid power plant, giving a total output of 402 hp. and the ability to drive in electric mode of about 40 km.
The interior trim, according to Volvo representatives, made with wood, crystal and leather, is the most luxurious of all the previously produced models of this brand.
Offering all-terrain and attractiveness, this model has put Volvo back in the top division of the automotive industry, starting a revolution with Sensus, Thor's hammer and four-cylinder in-line engines.
10. Uniti
Uniti Sweden is a young Swedish company that decided to create an inexpensive electric car that combines all the high technologies in its tiny body and allows the most comfortable and full use of cramped urban conditions.
A car weighing 400 kg can travel up to 300 km on a single battery charge, while safety remains at its best. Modern developments have made it possible to replace the dashboard with a display, and special sensors that track the movements of the driver's hands took over the control of the machine. Even a simple autopilot is provided. The pre-production prototype is still in development.
The Swedish car industry has long been producing cars that can satisfy the needs of completely different people, proving by quality that they can compete with other global players in this market.
