A 2018 Volvo V90 Painted Like a School Bus Has a Secret Weapon in the Trunk

You don’t see a bright yellow Volvo V90 every day. But the paint isn’t the weirdest thing about this 2018 wagon, it’s what’s hiding under the cargo floor. This car was built by SARSYS, a Swedish company that tests friction on airport runways. They gutted the trunk to install a fifth wheel, an air compressor, and a water tank.

The result is a luxury wagon that doubles as a mobile laboratory.

SARSYS used to outfit Saabs for the job, but after Saab folded, they switched to Volvos. 0-liter turbo-four with 250 horsepower and all the creature comforts: panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, and headlight washers. The real magic happens in back. That extra wheel is pneumatically lowered to measure surface grip.

According to SARSYS, it applies a constant 1,400 Newtons of pressure, giving readings that match what aircraft and cars actually feel on wet or icy runways. Data shows up on a secondary screen between the front seats.

The rear seats also host a water tank that feeds a sprayer system, simulating wet conditions. The seller warns not to exceed 60 mph with a full tank. There’s even a Kenwood NX-3000 two-way radio still installed. The car is listed on Cars & Bids with all this gear intact, and bidding sits at $6,800 with just over 25,000 miles on the odometer.

It’s a niche rig, but for the right buyer, maybe someone who runs a small airport or just loves bizarre engineering, it’s a steal. Auction ends July 14.