Motor Shows
Motor Shows

Volvo Concept Estate images leaked ahead of Geneva debut

Revealing images of the new Volvo Concept Estate have leaked ahead of the car's debut at next week's Geneva motor show.


The stylish three-door 'shooting brake'-style wagon was teased just days ago partly covered in a black 'raincoat', but the latest batch of pictures show the third and final member of Volvo's new-generation concept car family in all of its glory.

The family resemblance is clear, with the Volvo Concept Estate bearing the same lengthy bonnet, T-shaped headlights, broad oblong-shaped grille and smooth bumper treatment as the two concepts that came before it - the 2013 Concept Coupe and 2014 XC Concept Coupe revealed in Detroit.

From the belt-line crease downwards it looks almost identical to the off-road show car, with large alloy wheels and long doors. Above that crease, though, there's a large rear glass section that drops away at the rear, with a flat rear windscreen reminiscent of the classic Volvo P1800 ES wagon and curvaceous tail-lights that drop from the rear spoiler and, when combined with the rear quarter panels that protrude prominently below the glasshouse, give the impression of a particularly broad and planted rear end.

The Concept Estate is believed to loosely preview the next-generation V60 and possibly V70 models. The new concept is built to showcase Volvo's new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) underpinnings which will form the basis for all future product offerings including S60 and V60 sedan and wagon replacements and new SUV models (XC40/XC60/XC90), as well as further potential niche derivatives (coupe, shooting brake, 7 Series-rival).

There's no word on the car's powertrain as yet, but Volvo has developed a range of compact four-cylinder-only Drive-E engines which have allowed designers to push the front axle line forward, making for a large gap between the front door and wheelarch that mimics the proportions of a rear-wheel-drive car.

Inside, the car features a sleek new minimalist design with digital instrument clusters, a large tablet-style media system and stumpy gear shifter. Unlike the current, busy interiors of Volvo's cars, there's just one set of buttons under the infotainment system, and the screen also manages the climate control and stereo system.

“The basic idea is to organise controls and information in a perfectly intuitive and user-friendly way,” said Volvo design boss Thomas Ingenlath. “Everything is exactly where you’d expect it to be, making the drive more enjoyable, efficient and safe.”

That neat interior finish is expected to make its production debut in the new-generation XC90, which will also boast many of the styling cues seen on the concepts. That car will debut at the Paris motor show in September.

MORE:Volvo Showroom
MORE:Volvo News
MORE:Volvo Reviews
MORE:Search Used Volvo Cars for Sale
MORE:Volvo Showroom
MORE:Volvo News
MORE:Volvo Reviews
MORE:Search Used Volvo Cars for Sale
Chat with us!







Chat with Agent