Skip to main content

Volvo is no longer vanilla – thanks to the C coupe concept

What you see here are new teaser pictures pushed out by Volvo. The pictures represent a big move forward toward a more dynamic exterior design for the Swedish automaker that’s been long known as a maker of ultra-safe family cars with even safer styling.

“When I joined Volvo a year ago,” says Volvo Group head of design Thomas Ingenlath in the teaser video (below), “some people described Volvo’s design as Vanilla. In other words, nice, but not iconic or cutting edge.” Ingenlath ends the video by saying, “the vanilla days are over.”

Volvo C Coupe concept
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s not clear if Volvo was ready to take the wraps off the C head of next month’s Frankfurt Auto Show. But after Wallpaper magazine tweeted a picture of the new concept coupe, Volvo pushed a few more teasers.

Recommended Videos

Volvo is in the middle of a big push into the 21st century. After being sold by Ford to Chinese automaker Geely, Volvo has been on a big design bent, creating a series of all-new four-cylinders that will power all Volvos in the future and a new scalable platform for its larger vehicles, including the second-gen XC90.

Volvo C Coupe concept 3
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Rumor also has it that Geely is aiming to hit the U.S. market in the next few years with Volvo-designed cars.

Volvo recently stunned us by unveiling a prototype car that could park itself. Not just with driver input like some cars from other automakers but completely autonomously. The Volvo will drop the driver at a shopping center and go find itself a parking spot and wait to be called back to the original drop point via smartphone app.

Volvo C Coupe concept 4
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Volvo C coupe concept will be an important moment for Volvo so be sure to check back closer to the Frankfurt unveiling for official pictures and details.

Nick Jaynes
Former Automotive Editor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
Topics
Volvo unveils the electric 2022 C40 Recharge with Android-powered in-car tech
Volvo C40 Recharge

 

Volvo has joined the chorus of carmakers going all-in on electric cars. It announced plans to pivot towards an EV-only range by 2030, and it introduced a battery-powered crossover named C40 Recharge to drive the point home.

Read more
2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge first drive review: Refined EV subtlety
2021 volvo xc40 recharge first drive review electric car front three quarter

Volvo has said it plans to move away from internal combustion, but right now it only sells one car without a gasoline engine: The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge.

The Recharge is an all-electric version of the Volvo XC40 crossover, which launched for the 2019 model year. While the gasoline XC40 competes with pint-sized utility vehicles from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus, the Recharge’s size and premium branding make it a Tesla Model Y competitor. The Volvo may also be pitted against high-end versions of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, although price is really the only similarity between the two.

Read more
Waymo and Volvo ink deal to build an all-new electric robo-taxi
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan Waymo Self-driving Test Fleet

 

Waymo has inked a deal with Volvo to develop an all-new driverless electric vehicle for ridsharing use, the two companies announced on Thursday, June 25.

Read more