The Volvo Concept Coupe heralds the Swedish car company’s new design direction whilst paying homage to a classic model from its past: the P1800 from 1960.
Created by a team led by new vice president of design Thomas Ingenlath — this is effectively the first car shown that was created under his watch — the Concept Coupe not only previews Volvo’s future aesthetic but also reinforces the company’s ‘Designed Around You’ brand philosophy while showcasing the reach of the company’s new SPA (Scaleable Product Architecture) platform.
“The purpose of the car was not to try and tease the world,” Ingenlath told Form Trends at the car’s unveiling in Frankfurt. “There was a clear intention to communicate the design language and technology before we can show you the XC90.”
The exterior design, headed by former Volkswagen designer Maximilian Missoni is defined through taut surfacing and well-resolved feature lines, which serve to communicate the car’s modern and safe qualities while referencing the Scandinavian culture from which it is born.
As Missoni says, however, the concept is merely a bridge to the next generation designs. Looking through the functional IP display at the show, which showed the concept car’s design elements and how they would evolve onto the company’s future products, it appears Volvo is going to be dialing up the aggression on the front face and rear end designs considerably.
Former Bentley interior design director Robin Page was responsible for the execution of the interior design, and his 17 years of experience at Volkswagen’s ultra-luxury brand is readily apparent.
Here, the interplay of leather and beautifully curved driftwood — materials and colors that were inspired by Sweden’s rugged west coast — combine to create a beautifully serene cabin, which is as inviting as it is modern.
Page paid great attention to the detailing as well, with a small Swedish flag nestled between three — aluminum, driftwood and leather — elements on the IP and ‘Designed in Scandinavia’ etched onto the camera lens-inspired digital gauge surround, to name a few.
There’s no denying the Volvo Concept Coupe is a triumph for the company, which aims to move further up the premium ladder. The caliber of the concept car certainly signals their readiness to compete in that arena.
