Volvo Teases its Next Design Language with Preview of Concept Set to be Unveiled Next Year

• The automaker will unveil a concept SUV in 2027 that will adopt its new design language.

• The design chief says this theme will draw on the brand’s heritage.

• Volvo plans to unveil 13 new models by the end of 2030 and to add buttons back to its interiors.

The next few years will be busy at Volvo, as in addition to launching 13 new models by the end of 2030 and reimagining its interiors with more physical controls, the Swedish automaker will adopt a new design language.

Indeed, Volvo will use new design cues to distinguish its future models, despite its current theme having only been introduced by the EX90 a little less than four years ago.

According to the brand’s chief designer, Thomas Ingenlath, this new design language will draw on the brand’s heritage in order to make the new models instantly recognizable among their competitors.

Singled out as elements that will help these models stand out as Volvos are the “Iron Mark” logo, the diagonal slash that accompanies it, and the surrounding of a grille.

While all current Volvo models feature both the Iron Mark and the slash, some of its latest electric models, including the EX30 and EX90 don’t feature a grille-like opening, leaving the logo to stand alone on a body-coloured plastic panel.

While the executive didn’t mention anything else specifically, other design features Volvo cars have long been known for include vertical taillamps with a hip kink on wagons and SUVs, along with strong character lines that are said to reinforce the psychological feeling of safety and durability.

Drawing on the brand’s heritage could also mean a return to simpler, boxier body shapes, as Volvo was famous for its flat panels and 90-degree angles for a few decades between the 1960s to the 1990s.

In this vein, the designer hinted at a return of wagons and sedans, although North American drivers shouldn’t rejoice too quickly, as Mr. Ingenlath said the automaker’s design process would be regionalized, with Europe getting the smaller models and North America being supplied with larger SUVs.

Will we first see this new design language on a concept SUV that is set to be unveiled next year, which will coincide with the automaker’s 100th anniversary.

Nevertheless, the company released a teaser photo of this upcoming concept, which shows the front end of the vehicle covered by a white sheet.

Very little can be gleaned from this image, except that the hood will be shapelier than those on current Volvo models, with a sunk-in center section between the raised headlamp modules.

As was recently reported, Volvo is also in the process of redesigning its future interiors by adding more physical controls after buyers of its current models complained that too many of the vehicle’s functions are tied into the touch screen.

While we don’t expect future Volvo models to be festooned with buttons and knobs, the Chief Designer says the controls used most often will be moved back to physical switches, especially those which are currently displayed at all times on the screen, such as the main climate control features.

In addition, these switches will be different in both form and function depending on what they do, which should improve ergonomics and the feeling of luxury over rows of identical buttons.

Of the thirteen new models planned by the end of 2030, seven will be developed for Western markets, which include both Europe and North America.

Given the regionalized design process brought up by Mr. Ingenlath, we should expect about four or five of these seven models to reach our roads.

Source: Carscoops and Whatcar