Show full PR text



Volvo Cars unveils its new design direction with the two-seated Concept Coupe

"New design direction injects emotion into Volvo," says Thomas Ingenlath, Volvo's new Senior Vice President of Design

After a year of rising expectations, the first design by the new Senior Vice President of Design, Thomas Ingenlath, reveals a bold new design direction from Volvo Cars. The Concept Coupe offers new layers of emotion to Volvo Cars by merging contemporary Scandinavian lifestyle and design with iconic elements from Volvo's 1960's era. The result is a confident gentleman's or gentlewoman's – sports car, characterized by daring proportions, a new face and an interior brimming with exquisite craftsmanship and innovative technology.

"The last few years car design has become increasingly standardized and streamlined, and too

often defined by cluttered and overly complex design. While other brands try too hard to look

luxurious and muscular, Volvo Cars will stand out as the calm, confident and naturally powerful

challenger. We have no ambition to blend in, and the Concept Coupe efficiently manifests how

iconic design will reinforce Volvo's identity, says Thomas Ingenlath.

The Concept Coupe is the first of a series of three concept cars, all in individual ways

representing the next generation of Volvo models, starting with the forthcoming New Volvo XC90

in 2014. It's also the first car built on Volvo's new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA).

Developed in-house for Volvo Cars only, the platform liberates Volvo's designers from the

limitations of previous cross-brand platforms. "This is Volvo unleashed," says Ingenlath.

A calm yet powerful silhouette

The visual impact of the new proportions is most powerful when viewing the Volvo Concept

Coupe from the side. The distance between the dashboard and the front axle is extended and the

greenhouse has been moved slightly rearwards, resulting in a calm, yet powerful stance, oozing

of effortless power. "Think about the powerful calmness of a lion. He doesn't have to prowl to

radiate respect. Even lying down he shows very clearly what he is capable of," smiles Thomas

Ingenlath.

New face and inspiration from Volvo P1800

The face of the Volvo Concept Coupe is characterised by a new topography on the bonnet and

the 'floating' grille, flanked by new T-shaped DRL headlights – a feature that will be found on all

future Volvos in the upcoming generation. "The face is new, but it also carries more than 85 years

of Volvo heritage with great pride. The floating grill and the cow horns in the lower front are

modern interpretations of design features from the classic Volvo P1800," says Ingenlath.

Authentic craftsmanship meets touch-screen technology

The interior is super-clean and characterized by a contrasting mix of genuine craftsmanship and

bleeding-edge technology. The use of exclusive materials – including a leather instrument panel,

hand-carved inlays made of naturally aged wood, woven carpets from Kasthall and a gear-leaver

of handcrafted Swedish crystal, makes the cockpit a calm place where the driver is allowed to feel

extraordinary.

"To me, handcrafted crystal is one of the finest examples of high-quality Scandinavian design and

I love the idea of bringing it into the car. The prominent position of the gear-leaver is the perfect

place for this sparkling sensation," says Robin Page, Design Director Interior.

The concept car also includes a totally new approach to Volvo Cars' human-centric user

experience. A large portrait touch-screen in the centre console interacts with an adaptive digital

display and head-up display, giving the driver full control while being totally connected. "The large

touch-screen allows us to remove traditional buttons and controls, which creates an uncluttered

interior. Integrating user interfaces and bringing connectivity into our new cars make them both

more enjoyable and safe," explains Thomas Ingenlath.

The Scalable Product Architecture is also being prepared for completely autonomous driving. The

first features with autonomous steering to avoid accidents and make driving more comfortable will

be introduced in 2014 – and Volvo Cars aim is to have cars with fully autonomous technology out

on the roads before 2020.

Petrol plug-in hybrid bridges luxury with sustainability

The petrol plug-in hybrid driveline in the Volvo Concept Coupe reflects Volvo Cars' strategy to

use electrification to bridge power with sustainability. The concept car features a two-litre petrol

engine with a supercharger and turbo, which teamed with an electric motor, gives Volvo Concept

Coupe a total output of around 400 horsepower.

"The most discerning customers expect 100% driving pleasure and great design, but modern

luxury consumers are also concerned about the environment. Our strategy is to provide nocompromise

cars, that bridges performance with sustainability.