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John de Vries

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Volvo 480

John de Vries · 1986

The Volvo 480 was Volvo’s first front-wheel drive car and the only one with pop-up headlights. Produced in Born, Netherlands, from 1986 to 1995, it was a three-door, four-seat hatchback coupé marketed in Europe. Its form fused liftback and estate cues. It was intended for the US as a 'sports wagon', but that plan was scrapped. It established Volvo’s move into compact, front-drive architecture — without sacrificing structural integrity or electronic innovation.