Volvo officially introduced its S60 Concept at the 2099 North American International Auto Show. A thinly-disguised show car version of the upcoming production S60, the swoopy, gold-painted Concept shows off Volvo’s latest design language from design chief Steve Mattin as well as numerous crash-avoidance technologies.
When Volvo launched its XC60, design chief Mattin said it marked a whole new styling direction for the company. Judging by the S60 Concept, that certainly appears to be the case. Mattin joined Volvo from Mercedes-Benz in 2005. At Mercedes, he was responsible for the design of the SLR McLaren and the new S-Class, among others.
In addition to a new design language, the S60 Concept seems to demonstrate Volvo’s desire to move toward more slender A- and C-pillars for increased visibility. Over the years, these structural supports have become much thicker on most vehicles for structural and styling purposes. Volvo seems to have kept the styling up to snuff, but no details were given on the materials used to achieve a strong and slender roof structure.
The interior is highlighted by a sculpted crystal slab, which acts as the car’s center console, center stack, and even houses a navigation system. Of course, don’t look for the crystal treatment to make its way into the production S60 as it is purely a conceptual piece developed with Swedish glassmaker Orrefors.
“The full-size crystal piece in the concept car will not be a production feature. However, it does open up opportunities to use crystal on a smaller scale in the future. We’ll have to see how our customers respond,” said Mattin.
Although the crystal center piece won’t make it to showrooms, the unit probably does preview the interior’s general shapes and layout. Look for the next-gen S60 to feature a flowing center stack, with integration into the center console and even into the dash – complete with an instrumental-level navigation screen.
All of that’s great, but what would a Volvo concept car be without new safety technologies? Well, this vehicle is equipped with an promising pedestrian detection system that, among other things, can automatically brake if the driver does not respond to an imminent collision with a person. A production version of the technology, “Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Pedestrian Detection,” will be introduced in the 2011 S60.
The technology can also be applied to the prevention of rear-impact collisions. Studies indicate half of all drivers who crash into the rear of another vehicle do not brake prior to the collision. In such cases, Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake can help entirely avoid a collision if the relative speed difference between the two vehicles is less than 16 mph.
Other highlights include a ‘Powershift’ dual-clutch automated gearbox, a 180 hp GTDi engine, EPAS (Electric Power Assisted Steering), a ‘DRIVe-Mode’ fuel economy mode, flat underbody panels, and automatic engine start-stop for stop-and-go traffic.
The next S60 was originally slated to hit the market in early 2010, but the current economic slump is expected to push that launch back at least until mid-2010.
01/12, 8:57 AM
posted by:
stick2clutch
This car looks good… but from the first pics to now it is starting to look old to me. Note to VOLVO… the only way to avoid auto accidents is to keep your ass at home and out of a car.
01/12, 9:00 AM
posted by:
MurcieMe
This is absolutely amazing. I love it! Volvo seems to be pretty good at not dumbing down their concepts too much, and I sure hope they keep the production car looking at least 90% like this. Funny, brown Volvo’s usually don’t do it for me.
01/12, 9:52 AM
posted by:
Borat
I guess it will be fashion of next decade: cars akin to LA low riders. For Volvo I think it is a loss of individuality and identity. This car looks to me from certain angles like new Acura TSX (Honda Accord in Europe).
I reckon loss of identity is the least of Volvo’s problems at the moment.
01/12, 9:57 AM
posted by:
Jas Is Evil
Wow! Looks damn good.
01/12, 10:15 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Looks like a whale and Volvo’s have terrible reliability and shoddy quality. A Pontiac G6 or Saturn Aura would be a better choice
01/12, 10:35 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
idk, this looks kinda boring old volvo shape. i can’t really pinpoint why i don’t like it. it just doesn’t do it for me!
01/12, 11:12 AM
posted by:
shane train
The design chief’s name is Steve Mattin? That sounds like someone from South Boston referring to the comedian Steve Martin.
So, Volvos have terrible reliability and shoddy quality? Is that why I see 15-20 year old Volvos all over the place? It must be. Yeah that explains it.
A Pontiac G6??? Be sure to get the goofy wing and the buck tooth grille on it. And don’t forget those nostrils! What do they call that silly package. Isn’t it the GXP? It looks HILARIOUS.
01/12, 11:43 AM
posted by:
buytheredcar
Hard to say with the shape. Looks alittle generic to me too.
However, Volvos always look better in person and in motion.
01/12, 4:35 PM
posted by:
ricky_b
Sleekness. Love the front and rear ends on this. At least Volvo has a chance at life, either with Ford or through sales. GM has all but destroyed Saab.
01/12, 4:52 PM
posted by:
Lionwithoutpride
My Volvo is 16 years old this year . . . there has never been a major mechanical problem that would stop the car from performing its utilitarian purpose (A–>B and hauling a LOT of stuff while doing it . . . its a wagon). The only problem I have EVER had with my car is the air conditioning (I don’t really blame Swedes for not understanding the importance of A.C. to Americans). My car has outlasted three Honda civics that my sister has had. Dad’s 1981 240 still runs perfectly. My brother’s ‘93 940 Turbo still runs perfectly. Is a pattern emerging?
Need more oil for GM: I will give you this, Dad’s ‘99 Suburban XLT is also running flawlessly (except for the A.C.).
Ford did not own Volvo when our cars were made, but they all still run
The GM product still runs.
Mom’s Mercedes is a couple years old now and is still humming.
Three Hondas . . . are in the scrap yard. I think I have enough evidence to convince my family of what brands we should be loyal to.
01/12, 5:54 PM
posted by:
wideopenthrottle
@Lion
Agreed. I have a 98 V70 wagon. No issues with anything major, just a goofy AC sensor that turns off too early when it is 95 and humid. Anyone who hates a Volvo hasn’t driven one, the seats in mine are better than my uncle’s 2004 MB E550.
01/12, 6:53 PM
posted by:
iluvamcars
This will get the V50 for wagon variant, while the S40 will be discontinued.
01/12, 10:45 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Wow absolutely stunning. I hope Volvo’s production S60 is anything like this.
01/12, 11:24 PM
posted by:
maxcar
i guess we’ll have to wait until 2099 to see it.
this car, however, looks fine.
01/13, 1:47 AM
posted by:
328ISS40
I’ll trade in my S40 for that any day.
01/13, 5:13 AM
posted by:
peter g
Looks good! Hope they’ll employ numerous bankruptcy-avoidance technologies…
01/13, 8:51 PM
posted by:
Gundy
Man is that cool. Crisp and clean, and is that some sort of clear plastic on the console / dash? I love it! I’m not sure about the tie-your-shoelaces / Racer-X front end thing going on, but overall, super nice.
01/20, 7:02 AM
posted by:
Wheels1183
“Need more oil for GM” must have been drinking the oil leaking from his Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura — or perhaps something stronger. Or maybe even smoking his seat covers.
I think the concept S60 is a beauty and would give my eyeteeth to have one when it is in production.
As for “terrible reliability and shoddy quality”, dare I suggest Mr Oil for GM alights from his Ford Ferguson and takes in a breath of fresh Scandinavian air. What crap. Confucius say: “Of a gentleman who has alcohol in him, none stand in awe, nor can his excuses be sound. Such people’s tendency towards truth is as water’s tendency is to flow uphill.” Give up the hard tack, Mr Oil for GM.
I bought an S60 T5 2.3 in late 2002, and have enjoyed nothing but reliability, power, speed and utmost driving pleasure. It hardly cost me a cent to run, excepting the normal wear-and-tear costs. I can still cruise down the highway and take it up to 220 km/h (135 mph), with still more in reserve. I laugh at these baby 1.8 and 2.0 wannabe big-boy Merc Kompressors, not to mention BMWs up to 5 series. Comfort, it can’t be beat, And economy, it knocks spots off all cars in its class — and bigger.
Volvo get a big thumb’s up from me — a former Beemer devotee — and the S60 Concept has me drooling at the mouth. I reckon I’m going to start saving for one.
01/28, 8:54 PM
posted by:
Bunta
i think that its designed like this so the flies and the bees you hit when you drive are not 100% killed but injured so it is ecological super safe and bees and flies love it…hmm next..