Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Hybrid, Volvo, Design/Style, Electric, Luxury
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They may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the marque, but Volvo has a long and surprisingly lustrous lineage of coupes in its stable, from the P1800 to the 142 to the Bertone 262C to the 780 Bertone and the recently departed C70. Few of those two-doors have stood the test of time the way the voluptuous P1800 has, a fact the company’s designers are apparently keenly aware of. It is that exact model that Volvo says they’ve drawn upon for this new Concept Coupe, and while the showcar bears little resemblance to the smaller P1800 that inspired it, both cars have a visual grace and presence that has often eluded the brand’s grasp.
While not completely ripping up the design language established by the 2001 S60 in 2000, the Coupe Concept is arguably the most radical design statement we’ve seen from Volvo in well over a decade. Gone is the tone set by the drop-shoulder hood, and in its place is a more flowing, organic look, with the generous proportions of a grand tourer. The concept is a particularly nice piece of work, from its new T-shaped daytime running lamps to its pronounced rear fenders that subtly echo those of the P1800. Interestingly, Volvo informs that the first production model to benefit from this new aesthetic will be the next-generation XC90 crossover - and judging by the teasers we recently saw, this language looks like it’ll translate nicely to the CUV’s larger shape.
The Concept Coupe is powered by a through-the-road plug-in hybrid architecture composed of a twincharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder powering the front wheels and an electric motor servicing the rears. All-in, Volvo says the system is good for 400 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque.
Like this showcar, the previously mentioned XC90 is also expected to employ Volvo’s new Scalable Product Architecture, which will be used to underpin a wide variety of models as the company’s Chinese owners continue to push for profitability and scale. We would love to see a production version of this concept, but we have our doubts that a coupe will figure prominently in the company’s business plans - at least in the short term - as Volvo clearly has more pressing needs.Continue reading Volvo Concept Coupe is a long-legged Swedish GT [w/video]
Volvo Concept Coupe is a long-legged Swedish GT [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Sep 2013 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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