After a flurry of activity in Los Angeles and a heap of glowing media reviews, the Volvo P1800 Cyan is heading to Monterey Car Week to take center stage at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering on August 19. On display will be the original Cyan blue prototype, which was built as a tribute to Cyan Racing’s 2017 World Touring Car Championship title and has earned legendary status since its unveiling in 2020. Alongside it will be the very first US customer car, which will be presented to its new owner at The Quail.
Finished in a stunning combination of two dark red shades, the US car is a true Volvo P1800 Cyan built with its own unique character, reflecting how every commission is tailored to the client’s specific taste and preferences. For example, the blue prototype was designed above all to be lightweight and provide pure driving fun, built for inspired canyon drives with quick steering and firm suspension. While the red car has been tailored for a more relaxed driving experience, creating more of a grand tourer to suit longer freeway journeys typically encountered in North America.
As a result, the race-bred four-cylinder two-liter turbo engine in the US-destined car has been calibrated to deliver more low-end torque and slightly less peak power. Instead of the 420hp output of the original Cyan blue car, this revised engine produces 350hp. Similarly, the suspension has been dialed-in for more comfort, and the steering effort is slightly lighter. The choice of rear differential set up has also contributed to a more relaxed driving experience.
The dark red paint with tan interior gives the car a sophisticated, exclusive appearance. It retains the same carbon fiber body panels bonded to the strengthened Volvo P1800 steel body shell. The brightwork is also the same chromed billet aluminum pieces as all cars in the series.
The bronze finish on the 18” forged, centerlock wheels creates a bridge between the exterior and interior by complementing the wool and leather upholstery.
The dashboard and instruments were finished red to match the exterior, surrounded by contrasting black leather. The driver grasps a classic three-spoke steering wheel while supported by elegantly trimmed sports seats.
All chassis components, including the brake calipers, have been coated to match the wheels, ensuring no detail went untouched.
Every Volvo P1800 Cyan is hand-built in the Cyan Racing headquarters in Gothenburg. Each is based on a genuine P1800 donor chassis.
Each Volvo P1800 Cyan is built to the client’s exact specifications. The car’s design allows it to be tailored into anything from a lightweight, high-performance cafe racer to a grand tourer, which can be enjoyed on winding roads on a summer morning.
Prices start from around $700,000.
Size: 2000cc
Number of cylinders: 4
Cylinder alignment: inline
Valves per cylinder: 4
Aspiration: turbocharged
Bore x stroke: 82×93.2mm
Compression ratio: 10.2:1
Maximum power: up to 450hp at 7000rpm
Maximum torque: up to 356 lb-ft at 6000rpm
Maximum boost: 2.7 bar
Maximum RPM: 7700rpm
Fuel system: direct injection
Turbo: Borg Warner EFR, ceramic ball bearings, gamma-ti turbine wheel
Exhaust: Dual-tube stainless steel with twin catalytic converters
Driven wheels: RWD
Transmission type: manual synchromesh, helical cut, dog-leg
Number of gears: 5
Clutch: 200mm, organic disc
Flywheel: Single-mass steel
Driveshaft: carbon fiber
Final drive: limited-slip differential with interchangeable final drive
Front: double wishbone, adjustable camber, caster, toe and bump steer
Rear: double wishbone, adjustable camber and toe
Dampers: Adjustable compression and rebound, front and rear
Anti-roll bars: tubular bars front and rear, adjustable rear stiffness
Steering rack: Rack & pinion, adjustable ratio
Front: four-piston calipers, 362x32mm rotors
Rear: four-piston calipers, 330×25.4mm rotors
Front tires: 235/40 R18 Pirelli P Zero
Rear tires: 265/35 R18 Pirelli P Zero
Wheels: forged, centerlock
Front wheels: 18×8.5”
Rear wheels: 18×9.5”
Construction: high-strength steel and bonded carbon fiber
Rollcage: titanium
Custom: extended hood and front fenders, bumpers, exterior trim, fuel cap placement
Billet aluminum: every chrome part on the car, including door handles, mirrors, lights, front grille, bumpers, etc
Glass: all glass is bespoke for the vehicle’s updated design
Electronics: Modern CAN-bus, PDM-controlled system designed and installed by Cyan electronics engineers
Paint: Customer choice
Seats: Recaro
Instruments: digital, manufactured for the Volvo P1800 Cyan project
Switches, etc: custom-made
Wheelbase: 2446mm
Length: 4203mm
Width: 1748mm
Height: 1220mm
Track front: 1466mm
Track rear: 1489mm
Fuel tank capacity: 57 liters
Curb weight: 990kg
Weight distribution: F:R 47:53%