What the car is and where it came from
The T-5R was a special limited edition of the Volvo 850, the compact executive car Volvo built from 1991 to 1997. It was offered for 1995 and was a commercial success, so Volvo produced a second run in 1996. It was originally to be called the 850 Plus 5.
It was based on the 850 Turbo, the version of Volvo’s transverse five-cylinder, front-wheel-drive saloon and estate with a turbocharged engine.
How it works, in terms someone would actually use
The engine was the 850 Turbo’s B5234T5 five-cylinder, fitted with a special engine computer that added 2 psi of turbo boost. That raised output by 18 hp to 243 hp, with 250 lb-ft of torque. A four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual was fitted, although the manual was not sold in the United States.
It could reach 60 mph in 5.8 to 6.0 seconds, depending on gearbox and body, and its top speed was electronically limited to 152.2 mph. Pirelli P-Zero tyres gave lateral grip of 0.88 g.
What it gets right
It was a sleeper. Despite its boxy, understated look, it had a drag coefficient of 0.29. The engine tuning was co-developed with Porsche, as were the transmission and other powertrain parts, and Porsche helped with some of the interior, such as the Alcantara seat inserts.
It came with nearly every feature as standard. The package added a lipped front bumper, a rear spoiler, side skirts, polished aluminium door sills, graphite leather and Alcantara seats and walnut trim on a black interior. A Motorsport badge sat beside the 850 badge on the boot lid.
What it does not
It does not offer much choice. Only a handful of options existed, and in North America there were two: a boot-mounted Alpine six-CD changer and 16-inch wheels at no cost. The standard wheel was the 17-inch five-spoke Titan.
There were three colours: Cream Yellow (2,537 cars), Stone Black (2,516) and Olive Green metallic (1,911). Not every country received all three. Norway got only yellow.
What it changed
The T-5R carried side airbags in the seat cushions, which Volvo made an option across the range the next year and standard the year after. It also had an early form of daytime running lamps, three-point belts at all five seating positions and OBD II diagnostics a year before OBD II became the standard.
Volvo chose to give it no direct successor. Its popularity led instead to a new high-performance model for spring 1996, the 850 R, based on the T-5R.
Who it is for, and who it is not
It is for people who want a quick Volvo that hides it, and who accept a fixed specification. It is not for buyers who want to pick colours, trim and gearbox, or for American buyers who wanted the manual.
Is it worth your time
Yes. It is a short-lived special edition of 6,964 cars that shows how Volvo turned a compact executive saloon into a performance car, with Porsche’s help, before the 850 R followed.
