14 May 03
This stylish large estate is Volvo's Versatility Concept Car (VCC), although you shouldn't necessarily expect the Swedes' next estate car to look quite like this. However, it is a precursor to the V90, the forthcoming S80-based executive estate car, and does showcase some interesting technologies which are likely to reach production over the coming years.
For a start, the headlights feature three light units aimed at different angles. The topmost of these three face forward, and are illuminated all the time. The other, angled pair, become illuminated as steering input increases, giving better visibility when cornering at night. This system seems a bit easier to design and manufacture, we reckon, than lights which actually swivel.
"No-one is going to miss the fact that this is a Volvo," says strategic design creative director Jose Diaz de la Vega. Moving down the car's broad shoulders, reminiscent of the V70 and S8, you get to the A-pillar made from high-strength steel, allowing it to have a thinner cross section and improve visibility. Look to this feature entering more production Volvos in the future as cars become stiffer and safety increases. You'll note that the concept car has no B-pillars, either, but rear-opening rear doors like the Mazda RX-8. This won't make into to a production Volvo, the company says, it just makes it easier to see into the cabin.
And it's some cabin. Cleaner and crisper than a Daz-ad bedspread. 'Our aim is to create an atmosphere of total tranquillity for our customers,' continues de la Vega. Let's hope they're up to speed with their technology then.
For a start, there's no normal audio system. Instead, the hi-fi is linked (via W-LAN, 3G or GPRS technologies) to your home, so you can remotely access your MP3s, DVDs and so on from the car. There are no audio controls on the centre console, either, just those for climate control and security.
Most other controls are placed on the steering wheel's fixed hub so that the controls don't spin with the wheel; it makes for safer airbag activation too. All of which is fine by us, so long as Volvo avoids the temptation to go with an all-in-one, menu-led system like BMW's i-Drive.
Fortunately, it has. In fact, all other passengers get a touch-screen display so that use of controls isn't just restricted to the driver. You might also note that there are no visible air-vents, either, ventilation all comes from concealed outlets.
Due to increasing electrical demand, top line cars are likely to move to 24 or even 42-volt power systems within five years. VCC is no exception, and it has a separate 42-volt battery and 'Electric Drive' (ED) power unit - which reduces the fuel consumption of the 2.6-litre, 250bhp turbo petrol engine to an exceptional 43mpg on this 1300kg car.
ED is quite clever really. There's a Start/Stop function, which shuts down the engine when the car's stationary. Re-start is by the ED unit. The ED unit charges its battery under braking when it acts as a generator.
The VCC, like the Alfa 156 Selespeed and Aston Martin Vanquish, has a manual gearbox with electronically controlled actuators and clutch to change gear, all of which is more efficient than a traditional automatic gearbox. However, as drivers of the Aston and Alfa will be able to tell you, it doesn't make for the smoothest gearshift in the world; there's a lot of torque-loss during gear changes and it's difficult for the electronics to compensate.
The ED system, however, overcomes this loss by applying power directly to the driven wheels during gear changes, and also at low revs before the turbo spins-up properly, reducing turbo-lag. This means that the turbo can be designed for maximum efficiency during its operational range, and the ED system would only cover its back when it's not working as efficiently as it might.
There's a very useful facility which we think is bound to make production over the next few years, too. Volvo's Ambient Air Cleaner is a world first, and it features two filters in the engine compartment, filtering outside air before it gets put through the cabin's ventilation system.
These filters trap Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and hydrocarbons. Then, once they're full, they're heated by exhaust heat to 150 degrees centigrade, and the hydrocarbons and NOx gases are released back and into the engine.
The hydrocarbons are burned off, NOx is caught by the catalytic converter and the resulting exhaust gas is up to three times cleaner than the ambient air taken aboard. Volvo holds the patent on the system which it has developed in conjunction with Engelhard Systems.
A concept car wouldn't be a concept without at least a hint of silliness, though. Step-up, then, V-Pulse. It's the key (such as it is, though it's more like a small pad), which you place in the centre console to start the car. The unusual thing about V-Pulse is that once you're away from the car, it pulsates gently like a heartbeat to let you know the car's happy.
Should something go awry or the alarm activate, the heartbeat gets faster, and a small display screen lets you know what's wrong. Take away the throbbing in your pocket and it's an idea not without merits.
