New Volvo Concept Estate set for Geneva

Volvo’s newest concept car, the Volvo Concept Estate, will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month – with a set of teaser pictures already available to view on the website of Swedish raincoat maker, Stutterheim.

Major technology upgrades have simplified certain controls and brought the Volvo Concept Estate’s interior straight into the present day. They’ve done this by replacing most of the heating, music and other buttons with a large tablet-like touchscreen.

“The basic idea is to organise controls and information in a perfectly intuitive and user-friendly way. Everything is exactly where you expect it to be, making the drive more enjoyable, efficient and safe,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Volvo’s senior vice president of design.

Swedish designers have also given the Volvo Concept Estate a bold look. A low front end, sleek shape, glass roof, T-shaped headlights and 21-inch wheels give the three-door estate car a sporty design. This striking personality continues inside with orange seatbelts, woven wool carpets, tan-coloured leather and naturally aged wood detailing. A crystal gearstick and a chequered pattern stitched onto the back of the front seats complete the look.

“The interior is exceptionally vivid. Yet the glass roof and seats covered by light, soft Bridge of Wear leather help to retain that bright and cosy feeling that is the hallmark of a Swedish living room. A place that makes you feel so comfortable that you are reluctant to leave,” said Robin Page, one of Volvo’s design directors.

It’s also expected to run on Volvo's economical new Drive-E engine. This new range of 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines blends good performance with cost cutting fuel economy. The Volvo V60 is the first model to get these efficient engines and the diesels are the most efficient: they do more than 70mpg and emit less than 100g/km of CO2 emissions.

The Volvo Concept Estate may also be based on Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture, a steel structure designed for various Volvo models, promising maximum safety throughout collisions.

Volvo has been at the forefront of safety technology for decades, and the current Volvo V40 was awarded the highest ever score by Euro NCAP in 2012. The Volvo V40 came out on top, scoring an impressive 98 per cent for adult occupant protection, a record 88 per cent for pedestrian protection and maximum points for its clever safety assist systems.

The Volvo Concept Estate is the third and final concept Volvo is unveiling. It revealed the Volvo Concept Coupe at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year and the Volvo Concept XC Coupe at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2014.

Make sure you check back next week, when we'll have all the news direct from Geneva. In the meantime, make sure you take a look at our latest Volvo reviews on the Carbuyer Volvo reviews page.