Volvo’s “vanilla days are over”

VOLVO has released video images of a dramatically styled concept, which it says heralds a totally new design philosophy for its cars.

The four teaser pictures of the car are only visible for a fraction of a second but appear to show a sporty two-door named the C Coupe Concept.

No complete images of the car feature in the video, but a close-up of the off-side reveals a profile that closely resembles the Volvo P1800 of the 1960s.

A rear view reveals the C Coupe name badge, a minimalist tail-light cluster and a muscular flared rear wheel-arch, suggesting the concept will carry a sporty stance.

At the front end the concept wears a bold vertical-bar centre-grille and a honeycomb cooling vent similar to R-design models sits beneath a slender head light.

Volvo Car Group head of design Thomas Ingenlath also appears in the short clip and explains that “Some people described Volvo’s design as ‘vanilla’.

“In other words – nice but not iconic or cutting edge,” he said. “Well, I can assure you, the vanilla days are over.” Less obvious is the meaning of the closing message: “Is this Volvo?” but the accompanying date of September 29 suggests that more will be revealed then.

If the concept is a nod to early 60s design it would not be the first time Volvo has resurrected design features.

The hatch back 480 of the 1990s bore a notable similarity to the 1800 ES, and the fast-back styling returned again in the love-or-hate C30 some 20 years later.