Volvo Gives Glimpse of S60 Concept Car

Volvo Cars offers a sneak peak at the Volvo S60 concept car, which is set to debut in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The concept gives a “clear indication” of what the production S60 will look like when it debuts in 2010, Stephen Odell, Volvo president and CEO, says in a statement.

“The concept car shows part of our future, it’s a hint that the all-new S60 will be one of the strongest contenders in the C/D premium segment,” he says.

The image released by Volvo reveals the coupe-inspired silhouette of the new S60, a carry-over design cue the auto maker says gave the original model its unique stance.

“The concept car’s design gives a visual promise of enthusiastic driving characteristics, and I can assure you the all-new S60 will deliver a sport drive like no Volvo before,” Odell says.

The car’s roof line, accompanied by contoured shoulders, resembles a “gentle double wave” from the headlamps to the taillamps, says Steve Mattin, Volvo design director.

“The inspiration comes from the Swedish coastline’s cliffs and seas,” he says. “The concept car takes our design DNA to the next level. We’re talking about a dramatic new approach, meaning that we gradually turn up our cars’ visual volume.”

Volvo S60 concept’s silhouette inspired by the Swedish coastline.

The concept car’s interior features a floating center stack made of hand-crafted Orrefors crystal, which forms a transparent wave from the instrument panel to the rear-seat backrest.

“In a concept car, the aim is to give your imagination a free rein and our iconic super-slim center stack was the perfect object,” Mattin says. “Using pure crystal is a thrilling experiment. We may well see interior features in crystal-like materials in the future.”