Skip to main content

Volvo to complete its stunning concept car trilogy at 2014 Geneva Motor Show

volvo complete concept car trilogy 2014 geneva motor show xc coupe 1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Today, the movie industry is all about franchising. Any film with popular (and merchandise-able) characters is potential fodder for a series. Volvo seems to think the same strategy will work with concept cars.

The Swedish automaker unveiled the Concept Coupe at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, and all thoughts of the old 780 melted away. Then it introduced the Concept XC Coupe in Detroit last month, as a preview of the 2015 XC90.

Recommended Videos

Now Volvo says it will complete its concept car trilogy with a final concept at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show next month.

As with the first two concepts, the Geneva show car will be based on Volvo’s new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, which will underpin most upcoming Volvo production models, and will have a powertrain based around one of the company’s new Drive-E engines.

Volvo senior vice president of design Thomas Ingenlath will probably give the new concept a similar look to its predecessors, with curved surfacing that stands in stark contrast to the boxy Volvo designs of the past, and a front end based around an attractive oval grille that is likely to become a brand trademark.

The Swedes haven’t released any photos of the car, or even a teaser.

It would make sense for this third concept to have a different body style than the other two. Since Ingenlath hasn’t done a sedan yet, perhaps it will serve as a preview for the next-generation S60, or a long-awaited full-size sedan that could replace the S80.

Either way, it should be quite a sight. With the trilogy finished, maybe Volvo will concentrate on making its production cars look as good as the concepts.

Topics
Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Trade group says EV tax incentive helps U.S. industry compete versus China
ev group support tax incentive 201 seer credit eligibility

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), a trade group with members including the likes of Tesla, Waymo, Rivian, and Uber, is coming out in support of tax incentives for both the production and sale of electric vehicles (EVs).

Domestic manufacturers of EVs and their components, such as batteries, have received tax incentives that have driven job opportunities in states like Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia, the group says.

Read more
Ford boosts year-end discounts on 2024 Lightning, Mach-E Models
ford discounts lightning mach e 24 frd mch 51368 ao3a1676 edit 14a676

We’re officially into the traditional year-end sales period for automakers. That means big discounts are on the way, as both manufacturers and dealerships want to get rid of unsold inventory to make room for next year’s models.

This season, Ford has decided to boost incentives on its bestselling electric vehicles, the 2024 F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E models.

Read more
Eaton, Treehouse to boost home capacity for EV charging, energy storage
eaton treehouse ev charging news releases

Power-management firm Eaton likes to point out that when it launched in 1911, it invested in a new idea -- the very first gear-driven truck axle -- just at a time when both transportation and power management were on the cusp of dramatic change.
More than 113 years later, Eaton is again seeking to lead innovation in the current energy transition.
The power-management firm just signed a deal with Treehouse, an AI, software-enabled installation platform for electrification projects. The end goal: accelerating the electrification of homes for electric-vehicle (EV) charging, energy storage, or heat pumps, while seeking more efficiency and cost savings.
“At Eaton, we’re all-in on the energy transition and we’re making it happen at scale by delivering breakout technologies and industry collaborations needed to delight customers and make it more accessible and affordable,” says Paul Ryan, general manager of Connected Solutions and EV Charging at Eaton.
The partnership will ensure consumers are provided with accurate and fast pricing, as well as access to licensed electricians to deliver code-compliant installations, the companies say.
The collaboration also integrates into Eaton’s “Home as a Grid” approach, which supports the two-way flow of electricity, enabling homeowners to produce and consume renewable energy when they need it, Eaton says.
“For more than a century, power has flowed in one direction—from centralized power plants into homes,” the company says. “Today, there’s a new reality thanks to solar, electric-vehicle charging, energy storage, digitalization, and more.”
Projects to change homes and EVs into energy hubs have multiplied recently.
Last month, Nissan joined ChargeScape, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) venture that is already backed by BMW, Ford, and Honda. ChargeScape’s software wirelessly connects EVs to power grids and utility companies, enabling consumers to receive financial incentives for temporarily pausing charging during periods of high demand. Eventually, consumers should also be able to sell the energy stored in their EVs’ battery back to the power grid.
In August, GM announced that V2G technology will become standard in all its model year 2026 models. And Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hinted that Tesla could introduce V2G technology for its vehicles in 2025.

Read more