Hasta La Ideas

Images courtesy of Volvo

Last week, we received word that Volvo would be debuting their radical new design direction with what they’ve dubbed the Concept Coupe, the first new vehicle under SVP of Design Thomas Ingenlath, and it’s been lighting up the boards, so to speak, since it was unveiled on Thursday. Forum members’ reaction to the XC90 has been mixed but mostly positive thus far, and there is indeed more to it than meets the eye. Ingenlath offers a few choice remarks about what he calls “Volvo unleashed”:

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…

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…

It’s up for debate as to how successfully the XC90 actually “merges contemporary Scandinavian lifestyle and design with iconic elements from Volvo’s 1960’s era” (per the press release). Yes, it includes certain signature elements such as the distinctive grill—the ‘cow horns’ at the bottom also refer to the iconic P1800—but the streamlined form factor doesn’t quite scream Volvo. Not that it’s a bad thing: Michael DiTullo notes that “It feels a bit like the concept that Bertone did for Jaguar last year in a really good way,” and Orrkwankit gets a little more specific: “I see some G35 Coupe C-Pillar, some VW XL1 tail, some MB CLA lower grill, some Jag F-Type front fenders… Yet somehow it all comes together pretty nicely.”

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