Volvo previews Concept XC Coupe ahead of Detroit reveal [w/video]

Wed, 11 Dec 2013

Volvo is in the midst of a three-stage design revolution. The first stage came with the reveal of the Concept Coupe in Frankfurt just this past September. What you see here is our first glimpse at the second stage.

The Volvo Concept XC Coupe previewed here will be unveiled in full on January 8 in advance of the Detroit Auto Show. While the previous concept was all sleek, the Concept XC Coupe takes a more rugged, utilitarian approach with a hatchback roofline, higher ride height, knobbier tires, lower body cladding and a rooftop box. From what we can see, it looks like a cross between the previous concept and an XC70 wagon that could preview a soft-road replacement for the C30 hatchback.

That's about all there is to say at this point, but you can scope out the press release along with the video below and the trio of teaser images in the gallery above.

The Volvo Concept XC Coupé – the next chapter in Volvo's new design story

In September, the Volvo Concept Coupé was launched to critical acclaim and many awards, and represented the world's first insight into Volvo Car Group's (Volvo Cars) new design direction under Senior Vice President of Design, Thomas Ingenlath. It also showed one interpretation of how the proportions and versatility of Volvo Cars' new Scalable Product Architecture, that will underpin all medium and large cars in the company's future, could look.

The Concept Coupé was the first of three design studies. The next chapter in Volvo Cars' new design story showcases how the company's famous safety technology as well as a contemporary Scandinavian active lifestyle could be integrated into the new architecture. The Volvo Concept XC Coupé will make its world debut at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) on January 13, but full details including press release, videos and images will be published on January 8.

The Concept XC Coupé builds on Volvo's proud history of Cross Country and XC products, with Volvo Cars having created the niche in 1997. And in anticipation of the full reveal of the car in early 2014, Volvo Cars now shares the first three images of the car as well as a short video on Volvo Cars' YouTube channel.

By Noah Joseph