Volvo Concept You - AllCarIndex
2011
Concept You from Volvo Car Corporation
Luxurious Scandinavian design with intuitive smart pad technology
The Volvo Car Corporation now takes the next bold step in the evolution of the company's upcoming large luxury sedan.
The Concept You, revealed at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, combines a sleek coupe-like exterior with a luxurious high-tech interior that keeps the driver in command via intuitive smart pad technology.
The Concept You picks up where the Concept Universe, revealed at Auto Shanghai earlier this year, left off. It gives the global car buying public another exciting glimpse of the Volvo Car Corporation's future.
With a full interior, Concept You allows luxury sedan customers to fully experience the craftsmanship and intuitive technology that will be the hallmark of future Volvos.
The new Concept You roofline stretches all the way back to the tail lamps - creating that dynamic fastback look that is very much in vogue among European car buyers at the moment, says Peter Horbury, Vice President Design at the Volvo Car Corporation.
Touch-control cockpit and pure craftsmanship
The luxurious interior of the Concept You features a blend of intuitive smart pad technology and first-class craftsmanship.
The Concept You explores new territories in our search for the ultimate intuitive car that makes the owners manual a thing of the past. Smart phones and smart pads have brought mobile infotainment into a new era. Here, we use a number of touch-screens to replace buttons and controls in order to make the driver totally connected, totally in control. The technology also helps us to create a refreshingly uncluttered interior, explains Peter Horbury.
The Concept You control centre consists of four main areas; a digital Driver Information Monitor (DIM), a head-up display on the windscreen, a touch-screen in the upper part of the centre console and a touch-screen between the two individual rear seats. The woodleather steering wheel has aluminium and glass paddles with integrated touch-screens.
The touch-screen in the upper part of the centre console remains in sleeping mode until the driver looks at it. A hidden infrared camera registers the eye movements and information is displayed on the screen.
Another sensor registers hand movements and triggers the Infotainment system's control mode. The possibilities vary depending on whether the screen is approached by the driver or by the front passenger.
Certain functions, such as surfing the Web, are only accessible from the passenger side while the car is rolling. The technology knows who is the present operator and adapts itself automatically, says Peter Horbury.
The driver can flip data from the central touch-screen to the head-up display - and can exchange data with the rear passengers. A light guide in the free-floating centre console indicates file transfer.
Unique air-powered sound system
The Infotainment system also integrates a high-end sound system from Alpine. It features the unique FreshAir subwoofer - a not yet released technology that uses the air outside the car to create the ultimate listening experience.
The sound system consists of small, optimised units that considerably cut weight - while still producing a better sound than today's systems.
Comfortable and cultivated
The interior is dedicated to offer design-driven customers a comfortable, cultivated, Scandinavian inspired environment that is also user-focused and refreshingly uncomplicated. Every detail has been chosen with the customer experience in focus.
The interior is driver-orientated at the front and comfortably relaxed in the rear. The dynamic feel and dark colour scheme in the front seats fades seamlessly towards the rear until it fully transforms into a light rear seat haven of calmness.
The rear seat passengers are embraced by pure comfort, as if their favourite lounge were magically integrated into the car. The interior moulds into the rear seat and becomes part of the seating environment.
The Volvo Car Corporation has partnered with several other famous brands in order to create a genuine feeling of luxury with the right Scandinavian touch.
Leather, suede and suit fabric
The four individual seats, inspired by ultra-comfortable chairs, blend chrome-free leather from Bridge of Wear with Dinamica ecological suede. The off-black front seats have suede in the centre to create optimal grip. The soft beige rear seats are designed for pure comfort with leather in the centre and suede on the sides.
The Concept You design also integrates the luxury qualities of a tailor made suit into the car. The back of the front seats and the door panels feature exclusive Italian fabric and designs from Swedish fashion house Oscar Jacobson.
The designers have also been generous with large, handcrafted pieces of walnut - accompanied by leather panels, Dinamica suede roof lining and carefully chosen aluminium details.
Hand-tufted wool carpets
The wooden floor, which echoes Scandinavian homes, is covered with a specially designed hand-tufted carpet from world-famous Swedish brand Kasthall. Just like the rest of the interior it fades from dark in the front to light in the rear. The front texture has a sporty firmness, while the rear part of the carpet is luxuriously soft.
The interior is full of classic forms, materials and textures, used with a twist to create a special contemporary luxury experience. It is exceptionally refined, yet with all the simplistic assets that make Volvo champions of the uncomplicated, explains Peter Horbury. He concludes
We are carving out a unique position among the luxury car makers with our special kind of Scandinavian Design. It will be unmatched in performance, technology and craftsmanship, but without superficiality or complication.
Inspiration from Georg Jensen
The Concept You is finished in a light blue, liquid metal paint from DuPont. The ventilated disc brakes are developed by Volvo's racing specialists Polestar.
The car's fast silhouette is emphasised by the 21-inch polished aluminium wheels with a twisted twin-spoke design and tyres from Pirelli (2753021).
Up front, the Concept You grille - which has a more classic appearance than the Concept Universe - features details with the same beautifully polished craftsmanship.
The design of the wheels, the grille and details in the innovative headlamps have been inspired by the exquisite works of world-famous Danish design house Georg Jensen. Their precious items capture the essence of Scandinavian design. Uncluttered, organic surfaces and superb craftsmanship that radiate timeless luxury, says Peter Horbury. He adds
This eternal beauty of Georg Jensen design is what we are aiming for with the whole concept car. Just like the finest luxury goods, this design should feel handcrafted and durable enough to stand the test of time.
The dipped beam comes from LED lamps in four ice blocks on top of the high beam lights. The ice blocks are installed with the same technology that jewellers use for mounting precious stones.
SOURCE: Volvo
Concept You from Volvo Car Corporation: Luxury that paves the way for global growth
Concept You - a luxury sedan concept designed around modern people - continues to pave the way for the Volvo Car Corporation's global growth.
The concept car is being unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
"Concept You gives a good indication of what you can expect from our next large sedan. The blend of contemporary Scandinavian design, exquisite craftsmanship and intuitive technology will appeal to luxury car buyers all over the world," says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of the Volvo Car Corporation.
Concept You is the successor to the Concept Universe, which was presented at Auto Shanghai before the summer. Both concept cars are being used to obtain input from the global car buying public in order to find the ultimate design of the next large sedan from Volvo.
The Volvo Car Corporation interviewed a number of Chinese target customers at the Volvo stand in Shanghai. The company has also collected global feedback on Concept Universe, both through surveys and by closely monitoring social media comments.
"The most valuable input has been used in the development of the Concept You. This car features a more daring, coupe-like profile than the Concept Universe, while the front moves towards a more classic Volvo look," explains Peter Horbury, Vice President Design at Volvo Car Corporation. He adds:
"The fastback profile mirrors a strong trend among European buyers. With growing signs that Chinese "taste buds" are moving rapidly in the same direction, our main aim is to explore how daring our next large sedan should be in order to be a global success. We are very eager to hear what people think about the Concept You."
Cars designed around people
The Volvo Car Corporation's strategy is to achieve profitable growth by being a truly global company with products designed around customers' needs and lifestyle.
"With our hearts in Sweden and our eyes and ears all over the world, we intend to be the brand that best interprets what buyers of modern luxury cars want," says Stefan Jacoby. He adds:
"The Concept You reflects how people's perception of luxury is moving beyond the traditional perspective. There is a growing appreciation for the ingenious blend of elegant design, superior craftsmanship and smart technology."
Several aspects of the new strategy
The Concept You radiates several aspects of the Volvo Car Corporation's new, customer focused "Designed Around You" strategy:
Volvo makes life less complicated and more enjoyable
The Volvo Car Corporation aims to make people's lives less complicated and more enjoyable while strengthening the company's established commitment to safety and the environment.
"We will compete with the best with our special kind of luxury. Volvo's cars are intuitive and uncomplicated. Our customers don't have to give away driving pleasure to drive safely. They can be environmentally conscious and still indulge the pure joy of owning a luxury car," Stefan Jacoby concludes.
SOURCE: Volvo
