Makes › Volvo › ECC (Environmental Concept Car) · Prototype · 1992 One-off
Volvo
ECC (Environmental Concept Car)
Gas-turbine hybrid concept car that previewed the S80
Still being researched: identification guide, full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Bangolf · Public domain
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Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 1 Built
- Years
- 1992
- Engine
- Series hybrid: gas turbine generator feeding an electric motor
- Power
- 56 kW / 76.1 PSFactory: 56 kW
- Top speed
- Not yet verified
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center (VMCC), California
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The ECC of 1992 was a study of a safe, environmentally optimised family car for the year 2000. It was a major influence on the design of the 1998 Volvo S80.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionWorld of Volvo specification: "Production: 1 concept car" | 11 | Factory production | Independently researched |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
Volvo developed the ECC at its Monitoring and Concept Centre (VMCC) in California and unveiled it in 1992. It showed a new design language, with broad haunches, a V-shaped bonnet and a soft nose with integrated bumpers, and built on the safety concept of the 1991 Volvo 850, including SIPS side-impact protection with side airbags and three-point belts in all five seats.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard ECC (Environmental Concept Car).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Series hybrid: gas turbine generator feeding an electric motor2 |
| Displacement | Not yet verified |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | 56 kW / 76.1 PSFactory: 56 kW3 Registry reportedElectric motor rating; the source also gives 76 hp. |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Materials | Drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.234 Independently researched |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | 1,580 kgFactory: 1,580 kg2Volvo calls it "gross weight". |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| 0–60 mph | 13 s3 Registry reportedOn turbine/generator power; about 23 s on battery alone (S2). |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
World of Volvo – Volvo ECC (exhibition deep dive) Level A
- 1 World of Volvo specification: "Production: 1 concept car"
-
2
Volvo ECC - the car that gave the world a preview of Volvo's future already back in 1992 Level A Volvo Car Group Global Newsroom · 2005-03-01
- series-connected gas turbine and electric motor
- low gross weight of 1,580 kg
-
3
Volvo ECC: a challenge to the zero-emission concept (Green Car Journal, February 1993) Level C GreenCar.com, via Wayback Machine · 1993-02-01
- 76 horsepower (56 kW) electric motor
- 0-60 mph acceleration of about 13 seconds
-
4
Volvo ECC (Environmental Concept Car) Level B Volvo Owners' Club (UK)
- CD rating as low as just 0.23 (History)
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