General Motors, as well as Ford, all engaged in research on turbine technology during the mid-20th century. The appeal of smooth, effortless power originating from a simpler source as opposed to a piston engine was highly enticing, even though the concept never gained traction due to what seemed like insurmountable issues. Nevertheless, this didn’t result in the complete abandonment of the idea.
That very allure motivated the Swedish car manufacturerVolvo to delve into the technology in the late 1970s, ultimately leading to the creation of the prototype up for grabs at a Bonhams auction in Paris this Thursday. The 1993 850 in question comes equipped with a compact gas turbine engine—visually similar to those found in other passenger vehicles—that is not directly linked to the wheels. Instead, it operates a generator to charge a battery, which then transmits power to electric motors located at the front wheels. The anticipated selling price for this unique piece of automotive history? At least $68,000.
An unexpectedly modest price for a vehicle that undoubtedly incurred costs in the hundreds of thousands—if not millions—to develop, and with only around 2,500 miles on the odometer. A virtually brand new turbine-powered hybrid Volvo 850? Sign me up!
Potentially, the weakest component in this entire drivetrain is the nickel-cadmium battery. Nonetheless, the Volvo ECC concept, likely sharing a very similar drivetrain with this vehicle, boasts an electric range of 90 miles, which is quite respectable and can probably be attributed to its .23 drag coefficient. While the aerodynamics of this 850 are probably inferior, it still includes the gas turbine engine in the mix.
The details concerning the 850 in query are unclear, however, we are aware that the ECC’s powertrain generated a maximum of 95 horsepower, enabling it to reach 60 mph in 12.5 seconds while operating in “hybrid” mode. This model is potentially quite similar. There exists a collection of magazine sheets accompanying this vehicle that highlight its capabilities and technology, although the listing only exhibits one of these sheets. Remarkably, the device used to replenish the battery was also employed to initiate the turbine during startup. Evidently, there is merit to this turbine-hybrid configuration.
In conclusion, this Volvo project did not come to fruition due to what appears to be the insurmountable turbine issue: fuel efficiency. Allegedly, the problematic high NOx emissions that plagued previous endeavors with these engines were partially addressed by vaporizing diesel fuel into the atmosphere before combustion, yet the engine’s consumption was unmanageable. Despite having a superior thermal efficiency compared to a piston engine, turbines are simply not well-suited for automotive applications.
Nevertheless, that does not imply you should refrain from purchasing this turbine-driven automobile, even with its large exhaust pipe. The auction is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 3, and the car is up for sale with no minimum price. I may even consider making a playful bid myself. Who knows, perhaps I will end up insolvent.
Do you have any comments or inquiries for the writer? You can contact them at: peter@thedrive.com
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