Following up on a teaser from late last year, Volvo has revealed its Concept XC Coupé in full. The second of three related concept cars, the XC showcases sporty, new design language while highlighting the Swedish automaker's Scalable Product Architecture (SPA). It leaves us wishing for a similarly styled production crossover or two.
Not surprisingly, the Concept XC Coupé shares some lines and curves with the original Concept Coupé from last year's Frankfurt Motor Show. This is clear in the strong stance, chiseled flanks, headlight design, floating grille and taillight styling.
The XC Coupé also has plenty of personality all its own, housing Concept Coupé cues in a rugged but agile crossover package. Its larger 21-in wheels, fuller wheel arches, higher roofline and skid plates give it the extra attitude needed for dicey adventure driving. The flung-back hatchback cabin gives it the form of a crossover with a bit more sporty flair than other CUVs.
Beyond the Concept Coupé, the XC's styling is also informed by Volvo's new working relationship with POC. Touches like the bright-orange highlights and matte rubber rear moldings are inspired by high-tech sports gear.
Volvo has not yet detailed what type of powertrain will be shooting those gravity sports lovers down the highway to the adventure zone, so we assume it's saving that tidbit for next week's North American International Auto Show premiere. Last year's Concept Coupé drew power from a 400-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain with 2.0-liter supercharged engine.
In addition to showing new design language, the Concept Coupé, XC Concept Coupé and planned Concept #3 demonstrate how Volvo's new Scalable Product Architecture can be applied to different sizes and styles of vehicles. SPA is scheduled to debut on the 2015 XC90 and will find its way into all of Volvo's medium and large cars. It includes a variety of structural and technological safety enhancements aimed at eliminating fatalities and severe injuries in new Volvos by 2020.
"Concept XC Coupé also shows how clever engineering makes it possible for us to reinforce our world-leading safety without compromising design, size or weight," says Thomas Ingenlath, senior vice president design of Volvo Car Group. "Thanks to the extensive use of high-strength boron steel and structures with new, ingenious decoupling, we can make SPA cars more compact and safer at the same time."
"The new architecture liberates both us and the engineers from the limitations of previous cross-brand platforms," he adds.
While the XC Concept Coupé won't be headed for production, some of its design should shine through on the production XC90. Gizmag will bring you more details about the XC Concept Coupé and other NAIAS 2014 debuts when the show gets underway on Monday.
Source: Volvo
