Although nothing is official yet, industry rumors claim at least one of the two names will be used on a toned-down version of the heritage-inspired Concept Coupe (pictured) that was revealed at the 2013 edition of the Frankfurt Motor Show. The show car was billed as a simple design study built to preview Volvo’s next design language and the versatility of its then-new modular platform, but it generated such a positive response from show-goers that the company immediately announced it was looking at ways to turn it into a production car.
If the rumor is accurate, Volvo’s upcoming coupe will ride on the same modular SPA platform as the second-generation XC90 and the upcoming 5 Series-fighting S90/V90 duo. Base models will be offered with a gasoline-burning four-cylinder engine, and range-topping variants will boast a plug-in hybrid drivetrain tuned to send at least 400 horsepower to all four wheels. A Polestar-massaged range-topping model seems like a given, but only time will tell what — if anything — the tuner has up its sleeve.
The report should be taken with a grain of salt or two. As Motor 1 points out, the trademark filings might not necessarily indicate that a Volvo coupe is right around the corner because automakers routinely protect names to ensure they don’t end up in the hands of their competitors. Volvo executives haven’t commented on the matter.
Even if it’s approved for production, Volvo’s next coupe won’t go on sale until much later in the decade. The car maker has previously made it clear that it’s currently allocating the bulk of its resources to rejuvenating its lineup with mainstream, volume-focused models such as sedans, station wagons, and SUVs, and that the development of all niche models has been put on hold.
