We’re Swedish. Scandinavian designers always start with the
person who’s going to use an object and ask, “What can we do to
make this person’s life better, easier or more comfortable?” We’ve
always used this philosophy when we design our cars. So, while
other manufacturers might start with technology and try to squeeze
people in around it, we begin by designing our cars around you.
We understand what you need, and then use our technical skills to
make your life easier, better, safer and more beautiful. Form follows
function, and when you design a car inside and out with people in
mind, it looks naturally beautiful.
WE’RE VOLVO.
WE PUT PEOPLE FIRST.
IN SWEDEN,
GREAT DESIGN
IS A WAY OF LIFE,
NOT A LUXURY.
Designing cars around people has
led to many innovations over our
86-year history. The three-point
safety belt in your current car? That
was our invention from 1959. We’ve
solved a few environmental issues,
too – in 1976, we developed the
catalytic converter and the lambda
sond, a sensor that monitors exhaust
gas, reducing emissions and boosting
performance as well as economy.
We think that the details are just as
important, too. Take our seats. In the
early 1960s, we consulted with a team
of orthopedic surgeons at Chalmers
University of Technology here in
Gothenburg, Sweden. Nobody had
thought to ask an orthopaedic
surgeon’s advice when designing a car
seat before. But the ergonomic seat
designs we developed as a result have
made our cars world famous for their
outstanding long-distance comfort.
And we use natural, authentic materials
inside our cars – not because they’re
fashionable this season, but because
they make you feel good.
Creating a beautiful experience for you
is natural for us. Because in Sweden,
great design is a way of life, not a luxury.
SOMETIMES IT PAYS TO LOOK
IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR…
This is our P1800 sports coupe, launched in 1961. So, beautiful as it
is, why are we talking about a five-decade-old car? Well, it embodies
the design philosophy we still use today. It shows the confidence of
our cars’ styling backed up by the design authority that has made
Scandinavia world-renowned. Significantly, our little two-seat grand
tourer also shows the importance we place on making you feel good.
And that isn’t just about ergonomic seats and beautifully designed
cabins, but just as much about creating a shape that will make you
feel special every time you look at it.
… EVEN WHILE YOU’RE POWERING
CONFIDENTLY AHEAD.
If you look closely at our latest models, such as our S60 R-Design
sport sedan shown above, you’ll find that they continue to reference
our proud design heritage. We still use a wide horizontal grille, and the
P1800’s sporty soul and sweeping lines from the headlights along the
sides live on in our S60. In true Volvo style, we’ve blended these subtle
nods to our heritage with a clean, modern design language. The
result is a shape that embodies the essence of Scandinavian design:
Functional beauty that stands out in a crowd.
YOU WANT COMFORT,
RESPONSE AND CONTROL.
DONE.
“We’ve had a brilliant response to our chassis – it’s had fantastic
reviews in the motoring press,” says Stefan Sällqvist, Volvo’s handling
guru. He’s talking about the standard chassis on our cars – and being
Swedish, he never boasts unless something is really, really good.
“We’ve spent thousands of hours perfecting and tuning it in order to
heighten your responsive, in-command driving experience.” We’ve
worked hard on natural driving dynamics so that your Volvo’s actions
immediately correspond to your desires. When you hit the accelerator
out of a tight corner, your mind knows how you want the car to perform
– and your car follows as if you both had a telepathic link. The secret?
Corner Traction Control, our torque vectoring system that reduces
understeer, making cornering safe and fun.
The S60 also includes an Advanced Stability Control that can quickly
identify any tendency of skidding. This allows the anti-skid system
to activate earlier and with greater precision which helps to improve
handling and rapid lane change maneuvers. The Dynamic Stability
and Traction Control System DSTC also has a Sport Mode that allows
the car to be driven more actively by relaxing the sensitivity of the antispin system.
At Volvo, we think you should enjoy the same level of comfort as
you would in a stylish Scandinavian home. Our seats are at the
heart of this philosophy – after all, they’re where you spend most of
your time. Not only do we constantly improve on their ergonomics
– our designers like Anders Sachs, left, are also constantly on the
lookout for the best materials. “Volvo has always been good at
textiles; we have a long tradition of high-quality fabrics in Sweden,”
explains Sachs. “Take the S60: at first glance, its upholstery looks
sober, classic and elegant, but if you take a closer look, you see an
assymmetric line pattern inspired by Paul Smith. So it’s like an ‘aha!’
experience – you may not notice it at first, but it’s a fun surprise
when you do.”
Our materials don’t just look good – they also feel exquisite to the
touch – an experience you’ll appreciate every day. Surrounded by
beautiful design and exquisite materials, you’ll enjoy a sense of wellbeing the moment you get in your Volvo. Shut the solid doors with a
satisfying thunk and enter a place that’s a world away from any other,
a space of your own purely designed to let you enjoy your drive. Our
commitment to reduce clutter and keep things as uncomplicated as
possible leaves you free to drive as you turn up the volume of your
favorite tune, or simply listen to the thrum of your engine. Whatever
your mood, whether you’re feeling energized or laid-back, your Volvo’s
clean, luxurious interior is designed to give center stage to that which
matters most – you.
YOU’RE IN CONTROL,
NATURALLY.
Since you’ll spend most of your time in the driver’s seat of your Volvo,
we’ve designed a gorgeous space around you. All of your instruments
and controls are as easy to use and intuitive as possible. We call this
approach to connecting you and your car with the world around you
“Sensus”. Our beautiful new available Adaptive Digital (TFT) Display* is
the latest expression of this philosophy. Not only does it give you all the
information you need without overwhelming you with data, it also gives
you three modes to choose from – Elegance, Eco and Performance.
And with Sensus Connected Touch, your 7-inch Sensus screen
becomes a connected multimedia hub, giving you access to navigation
and music streaming.
But it’s not just our displays and connectivity technologies that are
things of functional beauty. We’ve put the same amount of care into
the steering wheel, as well as our iconic floating center stack with
our trademark ‘manikin’ climate control buttons. And at night, our new
illuminated gear shift knob not only makes it easy for you to see which
gear you’re in, it’s a piece of beautiful design in its own right.
*Available on S60, S80, XC60, XC70. Not available on XC90
FULL SONIC IMMERSION
At Volvo, we believe you should enjoy the ver y best audio experience. That’s why
we’ve designed our available state-of-the-art Premium Sound Multi Media System
with Audyssey Laboratories. Using twelve high-fidelity loudspeakers and MultEQ
7
sound processor technology, this 5x130 W system provides an unparalleled aural
experience for every passenger and connects easily with external media players.
READ MORE ON VOLVOCARS.US
Our beautifully designed, high-res color display allows you to choose between
three driving modes – Elegance, Eco and Performance.