Transformation. The idea that a car explicitly devoted not to performance, but to practicality and safety could suddenly have sporting ambitions was thus overturned thanks to the B21 ET by 2.1 liters, capable of delivering 155 horsepower. The “Red Block”, nickname given to the engine because the block was painted in an aggressive red – passionate, these Swedes – becomes the first supercharged petrol engine in Volvo’s history: a modern unit, with electronic ignition and Bosch injection, coupled to the gearbox, again with four gears plus overdrive, while the front brakes become self-ventilating for the occasion. These are not the only innovations in this regard, as the Turbo also benefits from the aesthetic updates common to the entire range, namely new headlights and grillesmaller and lighter bumpers, while to recognize it from its aspirated sisters just look at the side, decorated with a black adhesive thread and five-spoke alloy wheels with 195/60 15 tyres.
Avoidance of taxes. In Italy the 244 Turbo was marketed starting from January 1981, almost immediately with the usual “trick” of displacement less than 2 litres (code, B19 ET) to avoid “luxury” taxation: the power drops to 145 HP (but the torque is 225.6 Nm…), in any case, with a maximum speed of 200 km/h and a 0-100 in around 9 seconds, the Swedish sedan can be compared on equal terms, also in terms of performance, with Alfa Romeo and BMW.
Even in the race. To demonstrate the validity of the recipe developed by Volvo engineers, the right opportunity came in 1982, when the new international regulations of Group A, which involve the creation of at least 5,000 examples of the model to be used in the race, which must have at least four seats, while the minimum weight – the 240 racing car will end up weighing around 3.5 quintals less than the standard one – is linked to the engine displacement. Here, then, that the racing version transforms the two-door (the 242 bodywork variant is chosen, the most “sporty” of the lot) in a real beast, which will end up deserving the nickname “flying brick”. Modifications to the cylinder head, forged connecting rods and shafts, turbo pressure increased to 1.5 bar allow it to extract over 300 HP, for a maximum speed of around 260 km/h. And this, together with the bonnet and doors made of metal with a thinner thickness than the standard ones, allows the most unlikely of racing cars to dominate on European circuitstaking home victory in both the European Touring Car Championship and the German championship.
