Today, the movie industry is all about franchising. Any film with popular (and merchandise-able) characters is potential fodder for a series. Volvo seems to think the same strategy will work with concept cars.
The Swedish automaker unveiled the Concept Coupe at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, and all thoughts of the old 780 melted away. Then it introduced the Concept XC Coupe in Detroit last month, as a preview of the 2015 XC90.
Now Volvo says it will complete its concept car trilogy with a final concept at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show next month.
As with the first two concepts, the Geneva show car will be based on Volvo’s new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, which will underpin most upcoming Volvo production models, and will have a powertrain based around one of the company’s new Drive-E engines.
Volvo senior vice president of design Thomas Ingenlath will probably give the new concept a similar look to its predecessors, with curved surfacing that stands in stark contrast to the boxy Volvo designs of the past, and a front end based around an attractive oval grille that is likely to become a brand trademark.
The Swedes haven’t released any photos of the car, or even a teaser.
It would make sense for this third concept to have a different body style than the other two. Since Ingenlath hasn’t done a sedan yet, perhaps it will serve as a preview for the next-generation S60, or a long-awaited full-size sedan that could replace the S80.
Either way, it should be quite a sight. With the trilogy finished, maybe Volvo will concentrate on making its production cars look as good as the concepts.
