The Volvo 940 is among the last in the long-running line of large rear-wheel drive cars from Volvo.

Introduced in September 1990, the 940 was essentially a cosmetic reskin of the 740.
All drivetrains, and most options available in the 940 had been available in the 740, with the exception of the 780 Coupé.
The 940 was more closely related to the 740 than the 760, sharing the same dashboard, drivetrain choices, and sheet metal from the A-pillar forward.
In contrast, the 960 was an evolution of the 760.
The 760 / 960 front sheet metal, independent rear suspension, dashboard, and other interior features were all exclusive to the two upscale models.
The estate, introduced in May 1991, was even harder to tell apart from its 745 predecessor.

The engines remained largely the same as for the 740, with 8-valve 2-litre (B200) and 2.3-litre (B230) four cylinder gasoline engines, either naturally aspirated or turbocharged, as well as the familiar 2.4-litre Volkswagen six-cylinder diesel and turbodiesels being fitted.
There were also 16-valve versions of the gasoline engines fitted on a few early models (B204, B234, naturally aspirated).
In 1994, gasoline engine range was limited to 2.3 engines, but the 2.0 turbocharged remained available in some markets with tight tax limits, such as Italy, Belgium, and Portugal.
An interesting version added in 1994 was a low-pressure turbocharged version of the B230 – maximum power was only up slightly, from 131 to 135 PS (96 to 99 kW), but torque increased throughout the range and the car suffered from virtually no turbo lag because of the small size of the charger.
The 155 PS (114 kW) turbocharged 2.0 was first presented in February 1991, originally intended for Italy and other such markets it was later also installed in the British market 940 SE.
Eventually, the most commonly found engines on 940's were the naturally aspirated B230FB/131PS (all markets but US), B230FD/115PS (mainly for the US market), the turbocharged B230FK/135PS, B230FT/165PS, B200FT/155PS (for some markets) and the D24TIC/122PS diesel engine.

Engines were fitted with either a 5-speed or 4-speed+overdrive manual gearbox M46/M47 or an automatic transmission, either Aisin-Warner AW10/71/72 (3-speed+overdrive) or ZF 4HP22 (4-speed) for some B230FB (or E) and diesel engines.
In 1995, the manual gearbox was replaced with a full 5-speed (M90), and the ZF was abandoned for gasoline engines and fitted only on diesels.

The SE badge was one of the more confusing badges.
In the US, the 940 SE was in fact a 960 Turbo with the four-cylinder B230FT engine, the 940 SE badge presumably chosen by Volvo in order to maintain the link between name and number of cylinders.
In Sweden, the 940 SE was an ordinary non-turbo 940 with some optional extras as standard, most notably painted mirrors and bumpers.
In the UK, the 940 SE was a 2.3-litre Turbo B230FT with some extras as standard.
In Thailand the 940 SE was a Turbo (LPT) model with leather seats, ABS brakes and SRS Airbag.

From MY 1993 on, in Italy all 940 estates were badged "Polar" (engine B200F) or "Super Polar" (engine B200FT).
Towards the end of the model cycle, certain countries (as Sweden, Germany and Switzerland) had a well equipped special series badged "Classic".
Production of the 940 series extended from 1990 to 5 February 1998.
The Volvo 940 is among the last in the long-running line of large rear-wheel drive cars from Volvo.
Introduced in September 1990, the 940 was essentially a cosmetic reskin of the 740. All drivetrains, and most options available in the 940 had been available in the 740, with the exception of the 780 Coupé. The 940 was more closely related to the 740 than the 760, sharing the same dashboard, drivetrain choices, and sheet metal from the A-pillar forward. In contrast, the 960 was an evolution of the 760. The 760 / 960 front sheet metal, independent rear suspension, dashboard, and other interior features were all exclusive to the two upscale models. The estate, introduced in May 1991, was even harder to tell apart from its 745 predecessor.
The engines remained largely the same as for the 740, with 8-valve 2-litre (B200) and 2.3-litre (B230) four cylinder gasoline engines, either naturally aspirated or turbocharged, as well as the familiar 2.4-litre Volkswagen six-cylinder diesel and turbodiesels being fitted. There were also 16-valve versions of the gasoline engines fitted on a few early models (B204, B234, naturally aspirated). In 1994, gasoline engine range was limited to 2.3 engines, but the 2.0 turbocharged remained available in some markets with tight tax limits, such as Italy, Belgium, and Portugal. An interesting version added in 1994 was a low-pressure turbocharged version of the B230 – maximum power was only up slightly, from 131 to 135 PS (96 to 99 kW), but torque increased throughout the range and the car suffered from virtually no turbo lag because of the small size of the charger. The 155 PS (114 kW) turbocharged 2.0 was first presented in February 1991, originally intended for Italy and other such markets it was later also installed in the British market 940 SE. Eventually, the most commonly found engines on 940's were the naturally aspirated B230FB/131PS (all markets but US), B230FD/115PS (mainly for the US market), the turbocharged B230FK/135PS, B230FT/165PS, B200FT/155PS (for some markets) and the D24TIC/122PS diesel engine.
Engines were fitted with either a 5-speed or 4-speed+overdrive manual gearbox M46/M47 or an automatic transmission, either Aisin-Warner AW10/71/72 (3-speed+overdrive) or ZF 4HP22 (4-speed) for some B230FB (or E) and diesel engines. In 1995, the manual gearbox was replaced with a full 5-speed (M90), and the ZF was abandoned for gasoline engines and fitted only on diesels.
The SE badge was one of the more confusing badges. In the US, the 940 SE was in fact a 960 Turbo with the four-cylinder B230FT engine, the 940 SE badge presumably chosen by Volvo in order to maintain the link between name and number of cylinders. In Sweden, the 940 SE was an ordinary non-turbo 940 with some optional extras as standard, most notably painted mirrors and bumpers. In the UK, the 940 SE was a 2.3-litre Turbo B230FT with some extras as standard. In Thailand the 940 SE was a Turbo (LPT) model with leather seats, ABS brakes and SRS Airbag.
From MY 1993 on, in Italy all 940 estates were badged "Polar" (engine B200F) or "Super Polar" (engine B200FT). Towards the end of the model cycle, certain countries (as Sweden, Germany and Switzerland) had a well equipped special series badged "Classic". Production of the 940 series extended from 1990 to 5 February 1998.
Volvo 900 Series