by Wallace Wyss –
Volvo’s latest production cars still have the anchor around their neck of being designed for ICE drivetrains. But this prototype (from 2021) is the first SUV from Volvo on an electric only platform with flat floors. They extended the wheelbase and the wheel size of the car. The result is shorter overhangs, as well as a lot more interior space including a large storage area between the front seats.
They could lower the hood of the car while retaining the high eye point belt line strongly identified with the Volvo XC40, XC60 and XC90. Continuing the theme of ‘less but better’, all unnecessary elements have been removed.
The traditional grille is absent. They harked to legends with the name of the headlight design–Thor’s Hammer, which open at night to reveal the main lamp units. Signature vertical rear lamps are reimagined with a set of wings that improve overall aerodynamics. The interior has sustainable and natural materials.
My opinion:
SIDE: Continues the basic shape of a Volvo SUV but much crisper than before.
FRONT: The Tesla like-“no grille” works only because the bottom half looks like an ICE car. Not sure if fenders need the sculpturing on top. Lit up name badge might be used by many brands instead of old chrome hunk.
REAR: Best view of all, says Volvo even if there was no nameplate. Can’t see where aerodynamic aid comes in. (Yoo hoo PR department–show us…)
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR Wallace Wyss has been a guest lecturer on design history at the Art Center College of Design. He is co-host of Autotalk, aired each week from KUCR FM Riverside, Ca.
In any case, now is not the time to be supporting Chinese owned Volvo, at least a few models are fully manufactured in China and shipped directly to US dealers, the plants in Sweden and future planned plants in Belgium and the US will be fully supported by the same Chinese supply chain. When Zhejiang Geely purchased Volvo, the Chairman when asked about the US market had this to say… ” The US market is not ready for a Chinese automobile, but they are ready for one with a Volvo logo on it”. Do we need to know anything more?
That may be a problem later on but I am glad to see Volvo’s design sensibility continued by the new owners. Volvo spent all tose years developing a “Volvo look” and it would be a shame to throw it away.