Volvo 242 Turbo
Volvo turned its sturdy two-door family saloon into an American turbo car, using exhaust energy to squeeze more air into a fuel-injected 2.1-litre engine.
1981 Volvo 242GLT (4484784268).jpg · dave_7 · CC BY 2.0
Research pending
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More than a set of wheels.
The 240 family grew from Volvo's 140 but gained a safety-inspired nose, large bumpers, MacPherson-strut front suspension and a newer overhead-cam engine family. For 1981, North America received the 242 Turbo with the B21FT. It made a deliberately quieter statement than a traditional sports coupe: a practical, square two-door body with turbo power hidden underneath. Later intercooled and Group A racing cars were much more powerful, but they are outside this launch-year road profile.
Look a little closer.
Volvo described the fast 242 GT and 240 Turbo as wolves in sheep's clothing because their boxy family-car shells hid their performance.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
One turbo name, two market engines
Europe's early 240 Turbo used the B21ET and Volvo's retrospective gives that road engine 155 hp. The U.S. car used the emissions-equipped B21FT; the Volvo technical archive lists 126 hp for 1981. This page keeps the U.S. figure because swapping in the European number would change the exact market variant.
Source: Volvo Club UK technical archive · Volvo car engines ↗Why the race car does not set the road-car facts
The 242 shape later won the 1985 European Touring Car Championship, but the racing engine, boost, body panels and brakes were heavily prepared. That achievement belongs in the model's story, not in the 1981 U.S. road specification. The launch car's 126 hp, ordinary four-seat cabin and production driveline remain the factual baseline here.
Source: Volvo Cars · 242 model history ↗Where these facts come from
- Volvo Cars · 242 model history
- Volvo Cars · 200 series overview
- Volvo Club UK technical archive · Volvo car engines
- Volvo Club UK technical archive · 240/260 model table
- Volvo of America · 1981 model news bulletin (archived scan)
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-01.