Motoring News Issue January 2014 Issue 1 Jan 2014 | Page 9

Motoring News

9

The two-door, four-seat Volvo Concept
XC Coupé has a strong connection with
its sibling, the Volvo Concept Coupé.
However, the larger 21-inch wheels, the

acterized by a new topography on the
hood and the ‘floating’ grille, flanked
by headlights featuring new T-shaped
DRL light guides. The rear light signa-

more accentuated wheel-arches and
the taller roofline all contribute to a
more robust impression and a fuller,
capable look.

ture is also a distinctive element in the
new design direction of Volvo Cars.

sumption across a plug-in vehicle and
home appliances.
Ford and its business associates
worked with researchers from Georgia
Institute of Technology to create a
computer model that calculates the
electricity usage of a typical single family in their home for one year, and the
associated savings with moving to an
energy-efficient lifestyle. The cumulative results predict a 60 percent reduction in energy costs and more than
9,000 kilograms of CO2 (55 percent reduction) saved. If every home in the
United States were to implement these
energy-saving technologies, it would
be the equivalent of taking all the
homes in California, New York and
Texas – 32 million homes – off the power grid.
For more information on Ford’s MyEnergi Lifestyle program, visit the newly
launched MyEnergi Lifestyle website,
which highlights the collaboration,
products, 2013 winners and much
more: www.myenergilifestyle.com.

The second of Volvo’s three concept
cars is the new Volvo Concept XC
Coupé. Inspired by the design of modern sports equipment and demonstrating the safety capabilities of Volvo’s
new Scalable Product Architecture
(SPA), it is a sophisticated and capable
car for people with an active lifestyle.
“Those who love gravity sports freely
seek new thrills and challenges. To ensure that they make it back in one
piece, they prefer high-performance
equipment that offers the ultimate
sense of freedom and protection,” says
Thomas Ingenlath, senior vice president design of Volvo Car Group.
“The Volvo Concept XC Coupé is perfectly in tune with this active lifestyle.
Its capability and protection is cleverly
integrated into the sophisticated looks.
Concept XC Coupé is ready and willing
to bring you into the adventure zone
and back,” he adds.
Sleeker and safer at the same time

THE VOLVO
CONCEPT XC
COUPÉ

The three concept cars are designed to
demonstrate vital elements of the company’s new Scalable Product Architecture: the confident stance, the proportions and the most prominent design
signatures.
“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. 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,”
says Ingenlath.

The extended distance between the
dashboard and the front axle is still a
very powerful visual element. The capable stance is emphasized by details
such as the new hood and a beltline
that spans an elegant bow along the
length of the car.
High-tech sport gear
The connection with modern, hightech sports gear is highly present in the
concept car. Among the sources of inspiration for the design team is the
Swedish company POC, which develops high-tech protective gear for gravity sports athletes.
“Several orange details and exterior
graphics in combination with bold use
of matte rubber moldings, which cover
the rear end of the car, add to the highly functional expression of the design,”
says Ingenlath.
To strike the right balance between
aesthetics and functionality, the design
team has also given it traditional SUV
elements, such as side moldings and
skid plates, a modern interpretation.
They are more integrated into the sleek
design, flush with the surrounding
body areas.
T-shaped DRL lights
Just like Volvo Concept Coupé, the face
of the Volvo Concept XC Coupé is char-

“Both concept cars show how we can
shape our cars from now on. We add
emotional value to the Volvo brand
with the calm, confident beauty that is
the hallmark of Scandinavian design,”
says Ingenlath.