The Volvo Car Group recently unveiled the Concept Estate—the third in a series of concept cars—at the Geneva Motor Show.
With the introduction of the Concept Estate audiences, for the first time, got a peek at how the interior of Volvo’s forthcoming models will both look and function. The Volvo Concept Estate’s most striking interior design feature is its simplicity. Further bringing owners in the 21st century, instead of the traditional selection of buttons and controls, the Concept Estate features a tablet-like touch screen main control panel in the center console.
“The basic idea is to organize controls and information in a perfectly intuitive and user-friendly way. Everything is exactly where you expect it to be, making the drive more enjoyable, efficient and safe,” says Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Car Group.
Learning from History
The rear of Concept Estate echoes the design of the Volvo 1800 ES from the early 1970s.
Robin Page explains: “The first four decades of the Volvo history was characterized by classic craftsmanship and high quality materials. We are merging this vital part of our brand DNA with the more recent focus on technology and smart functionality. In the Concept Estate we also add the creative side of Scandinavia. The result is an exotic interior with genuine materials and beautiful detailing.”
Beautiful and Different
Applying this approach to the iconic Estate car creates a car that is both beautiful and unique.
The generous dash to axle ratio, low bonnet, sleek silhouette and the glass roof all contribute to the impression of a dynamic, yet capable three-door sports wagon. The contrast between the deep, dark brown pear color and the bright five-spoke, 21-inch wheels contributes to the modern, cool aura.
The face of the Volvo Concept Estate is characterized 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 another distinctive element in Volvo Cars’ new design direction.
Volvo’s concept cars has gained a large global following as they strive to provide the first significant clues as to how the all-new and much-anticipated XC90 SUV and subsequent cars will look. The XC90 is due to be launched later this year.