Currently reading: New XC90 hinted in Volvo Concept XC Coupé
Volvo gives a thinly veiled look at its upcoming XC90 with the Concept XC coupé, seen today for the first time in Detroit

The new Volvo XC90, due at the end of the year, has been previewed by the Concept XC Coupé, show today for first time at the Detroit motor show.

The Concept XC Coupé follows last year’s Concept Coupé as the second of three concept cars penned by Volvo design chief Thomas Ingenlath. Each concept has been designed to preview Volvo’s new look and highlight the flexibility of the firm’s new SPA platform, which will be rolled out first on the XC90 and ultimately on all Volvos larger than the V40.

Ingenlath says the two-door, four-seat Detroit concept, “brings us a bit closer” to the new XC90.

“But it goes without saying that a three-row seven-seater will have a larger and fuller look than this four-seater,” Ingenlath added, comparing the Concept XC Coupe to an Allroad-style version of a sports estate.

Using Ingenlath’s words, it is relatively easy to imagine a larger and fuller version of the Concept XC Coupé in order to arrive at the look of the new XC90. Indeed, Volvo has already previewed the front end of the new XC90 in a teaser image and its links to the Concept XC Coupé are clear.

Ingenlath says the Concept XC Coupé has been inspired by the design of modern sports equipment and is pitched at people with active lifestyles. This is reflected in the way the two rear seats fold flat to store sports equipment, as well as with the concept’s roof box and with the materials used for the body cladding and trim.

The Concept XC Coupe shows off the versatility of the SPA platform, the architecture previously being used on the sleek two-door Concept Coupe. Larger 21in alloys are fitted to the concept, as are flared wheel arches, a taller roofline, a longer bonnet and more prominent beltline.

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The Volvo XC90 is a big seven seat SUV in desperate need of modernisation, despite still having some strengths

Mark Tisshaw

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Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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Jinx59 8 January 2014

Roof box

Is designed for pizza deliveries.
C2_Matt 8 January 2014

Looks good but Volvo need to

Looks good but Volvo need to show the proper XC90 sooner rather than later. The current one is the dinosaur in the range in a competitive, well selling segment and if LR get a new Freelander or Disco out before December, Volvo could be struggling to keep up because I'd imagine LR will be moving the goalposts.

Jinx59 wrote:

Is designed for pizza deliveries.

You're wrong, it's what Amazon is using for their Swedish deliveries. If you use next day fast delivery it gets delivered by the roof box on the Koenigsegg Agera!

DBtechnician 8 January 2014

Interesting development by Volvo "not China"

Yes lets use the same platform capable of supporting a large 7 seat people carrier or estate in addition to a shrink wrapped coupe who's footprint far exceeds the vehicles capacity.
Like the top box I'm wondering if anything can be fitted into the vehicle other than a flat screen T.V.
On a positive note the design looks very stylish and expensive.
bomb 8 January 2014

-

You know the model is close as silly deals on the current model are starting to appear again. Can't see pricing being anything other than 'stiff' when the new generation appears but, as others have said, having something other than the default choices in the marketplace can only be a good thing.