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Volvo’s XC60 Debuts at the 2007 NAIAS
Volvo maker of the famous Volvo parts have unveiled their XC60 concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The XC60 has showed the world what Swede design is all about. According to Volvo Chief Designer Steve Mattin, "If today you can see that it's a Volvo from 50 meters, I want to make that figure twice as big.”
The XC60 was the product of the designing team headed by Steve Mattin. He said, "In recent years we have successfully emphasized the Scandinavian characteristics that base prestige on timeless, functional elegance. Now we're elevating our design DNA to an entirely new level by literally pumping up our cars' visual volume. With more expressive, emotive shapes, it will be a magnet for the viewer's eyes. If a Volvo is recognizable from 100 feet away today, I want to get to the point where you will instantly spot it from twice that distance in the future."
The design concept for the XC60 is daring and emotional. The dashing Tin Bronze livery has combined two distinct vehicles designs, "Down below, the unmistakable and capable XC muscles pump up the vehicle, giving it a purposeful stance with high ground clearance on large wheels. Above the waistline, the dashing lines trace the profile and sporty charisma of an elegant, sexy coupe,” explained Mattin.
The XC60 was given notable exterior features such as the following:
• Enlarged iron mark in the grille- this basically pertains to the classic Volvo iron mark which the XC60 has given a new meaning signaling the dawn of Volvo’s future design direction.
• New tailgate design- as explained by Mattin, "At the rear, the expressive, sculptured shapes provide additional hints of the direction our design DNA is set to take. The contours of the tall tail lamps highlight the muscular shoulders and the tailgate's trapezoidal shape is a further development of the glass tailgate in the Volvo C30.”
• Elegant, high-tech interior- according to Mattin, "The white iPod-inspired surface is almost like a smooth wall of snow, surrounded by a metal frame that emphasizes the asymmetrical shape. Buttons and controls are entirely integrated into the surface and the "invisible" screen for information and navigation appears only when it is switched on, starting up with a spectacular pulsating sequence. The screen image is back projected, which makes the center stack one of the innovative highlights of the interior.”
• Slim seats- as always Volvo is world-renowned for its comfortable and ergonomically designed seats. The XC60 concept according to Mattin, "By turning his head, the driver can see all the way through his or her own seat, through the rear seat's backrest and through the transparent panel at the lower corner of the tailgate. This promotes added safety in a car type whose height may otherwise limit rearward vision.”
About the Author: Corey Putton is a 28-year old bachelor from Pittsburgh, PA who has been around cars for the better part of his life. He now works online and writes all about his passion: cars. He is also a certified mechanic.
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