Volvo has unveiled the Concept XC Coupe, a sophisticated, capable and safe car for people with an active lifestyle, inspired by modern high-tech sports equipment.
"Those who love gravity sports freely seek new thrills and challenges. To ensure that they make it back in one piece they prefer high performance gear that offers the ultimate sense of freedom and protection," commented Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design of Volvo Car Group.
"Volvo Concept XC Coupe is perfectly in tune with this active lifestyle. Its capability and protection is cleverly integrated into the sophisticated looks. The XC is ready and willing to bring you into the adventure zone and back."
The inspiration from and recently established co-operation with the Swedish company POC - developers of high-tech protective gear for gravity sports athletes - is highly present in the concept car.
"Several orange details and exterior graphics in combination with a bold use of matte rubber mouldings, which cover the rear end of the car, add to the highly functional expression in the design," Ingenlath explained.
To strike the right balance between aesthetics and functionality, the design team has also given traditional SUV elements, such as side mouldings and skid plates, a modern interpretation. They are more integrated in the sleek design, flush with the surrounding body areas.
The face of the Volvo Concept XC Coupe is characterised by a new topography on the bonnet and the 'floating' grille, flanked by headlights featuring new T-shaped DRL light guides. The rear light signature is also a distinctive element in the new design direction of Volvo Cars.
QA with Thomas Ingenlath
Your design direction is based on the core virtues of Scandinavian Design. What's the connection for Volvo Concept XC?
Outdoor activities are an important part of the Swedish lifestyle. Your leisure time is dedicated to enjoying life. And your Volvo must of course support this desire. Our XC models express this by blending expressive style, generous functionality, All Wheel Drive capability and world-class safety.
We will continue to refine Volvo's strong connection to outdoor activities with more emphasis on modern materials. It's about making functionality an emotional experience. Just like high-tech sport gear, our cars will blend attractive design and sophistication with strength and intelligent capability.
Can safety really be fun?
Being protected is a good feeling. Having the right gear - in this case the car - builds peace of mind and confidence. This in turn enables you to fully enjoy your drive and your adventure.
This is perfectly in harmony with our human-centric approach and exceptionally strong heritage. It is exciting to create a new design expression that supports established brand values as well as the repositioning towards a more emotional, distinctive premium brand.
How does the aim to be a world-leader in safety affect you and the design team?
The new architecture liberates both us and the engineers from the limitations of previous cross-brand platforms. SPA enables us to create the great proportions that are important to achieve a premium look. The engineers can solve the safety challenges with a more extensive use of high-strength boron steel and a new ingenious electrical architecture.
Which are the most the most prominent new design signatures?
Every strong brands needs a set of visual keys that makes it unique. Future Volvos will be characterised by the distinctive iron mark in the floating grille, flanked by the T-shaped DRL lights. The larger bonnet with its new topography, the beltline spanning an elegant bow along the whole car and the sharpened shoulder connecting with the new rear light are other important design signatures. They all contribute to the confident stance. The overall simplicity, both exterior and interior, has a strong connection to the Scandinavian lifestyle.
Volvo Concept XC today, the all-new XC90 in 2014. How similar are they?
Volvo Concept XC in another demonstration of what our new architecture is capable of. It brings us a bit closer to the all-new XC90. But it goes without saying that a three-row, seven-seater will have a larger and fuller look than this four-seater. Volvo Concept XC is more of a Cross Country version of a sleek sports wagon.