Volvo aims to make it all about You
COMING down from out of this world with the Concept Universe, Volvo has revealed its Concept You, a further peek into the Scandinavian company’s future designs.
Both concepts are being used to gauge public reaction and help shape the design of the next large car from the firm.
“Concept You gives a good indication of what you can expect from our next large sedan. The blend of contemporary Scandinavian design, exquisite craftsmanship and intuitive technology will appeal to luxury car buyers all over the world,” says Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.
It combines a sleek coupé-like exterior with a luxurious high-tech interior that keeps the driver in command via intuitive smart pad technology. Concept You’s luxury interior showcases the craftsmanship and technology which will be the hallmark of future Volvos.
Volvo has collected feedback on the Concept Universe and used it in the development of the Concept You.
“This car features a more daring, coupé -like profile than the Concept Universe, while the front moves towards a more classic Volvo look,” explains Peter Horbury, vice-president in charge of design at Volvo.
“The fastback profile mirrors a strong trend among European buyers. With growing signs that Chinese ‘taste buds’ are moving rapidly in the same direction, our main aim is to explore how daring our next large sedan should be in order to be a global success. We are very eager to hear what people think about the Concept You.”
“With our hearts in Sweden and our eyes and ears all over the world, we intend to be the brand that best interprets what buyers of modern luxury cars want,” says Stefan Jacoby.
“The Concept You reflects how people’s perception of luxury is moving beyond the traditional perspective. There is a growing appreciation for the ingenious blend of elegant design, superior craftsmanship and smart technology.”
Volvo aims to make people’s lives simpler and more enjoyable while building on its established commitment to safety and the environment.
The luxurious interior of the Concept You features a blend of intuitive smart pad technology and first-class craftsmanship.
“The Concept You explores new territories in our search for the ultimate intuitive car that makes the owners manual a thing of the past. Smart phones and smart pads have brought mobile infotainment into a new era. Here, we use a number of touch-screens to replace buttons and controls in order to make the driver totally connected, totally in control. The technology also helps us to create a refreshingly uncluttered interior,” explains Peter Horbury.
The Concept You control centre consists of four main areas; a digital Driver Information Monitor (DIM), a head-up display on the windscreen, a touch-screen in the upper part of the centre console and a touch-screen between the two individual rear seats. The wood/leather steering wheel has aluminium and glass paddles with integrated touch-screens.
The touch-screen in the upper part of the console remains in sleep mode until the driver looks at it – a hidden infrared camera registers eye movements.
The Infotainment system also integrates a high-end sound system from Alpine. It features the unique “FreshAir” subwoofer — a not yet released technology that uses the air outside the car to create the ultimate listening experience. The sound system consists of small, optimised units that considerably cut weight — while still producing a better sound than today’s systems.
The Concept You is finished in a light blue, liquid metal paint from DuPont. The ventilated disc brakes are developed by Volvo’s racing specialists Polestar and it is fitted with 21-inch polished aluminium wheels with a twisted twin-spoke design and tyres from Pirelli.