After it introduced the Volvo XC90 Excellence version, with only four seats and a level of luxury only found in high-end models from Rolls Royce and Bentley, the Swedish manufacturer unveils a new concept, during the Shanghai Auto Show.
The prototype is called Volvo XC90 Lounge Console and was designed for busy chauffeur-driven business people that need a compact and versatile solution to expanded storage and comfort. The Lounge Console replaces the front passenger seat, so we end up with a XC90 that has only three seats.
Having performed ethnographic research to establish the needs of people with a high-profile lifestyle, Volvo Cars’ designers provided a large work table which opens to reveal an illuminated vanity mirror, including a storage tray for jewelry and personal accessories or make-up.
The table rotates 90 degrees and simultaneously powers forward to display a large 17” media screen for a full in-car theater experience. Below the cushioned leg rest is an additional area for shoes. For added security Volvo Cars has included a lockable storage box. The removal of the front passenger seat allows for full forward vision.
“People who are on the move and have a hectic lifestyle going from event to event or meeting to meeting need some space, some luxury time, and the opportunity to relax and refresh themselves for the next engagement. This is ultimately what the Lounge Console is designed to facilitate,” concluded Thomas Ingenlath, the chief of design department at Volvo.
