For the reason that firm’s founding in 1927, Volvo has grow to be famend for its sensible, protected and classy utility autos. Whereas finest identified for its wagons, Volvo has produced all method of hatchbacks, supply autos, crossovers and even a brand new electrical van. Volvo’s first SUV, the XC90, made its debut in 2002, however newly launched sketches present the Swedish model was contemplating a legit off-roader within the Nineteen Seventies.
The sketches, that are “blueprint styling ideas” created to develop the design, had been posted to the Volvo Heritage Fb web page final week. In response to the corporate, then-CEO Pehr Gyllenhammer tasked longtime design supervisor Gunnar Falck with creating “a rugged car for Africa and creating nations.” Apart from what we will see within the pictures, there aren’t any extra particulars or perhaps a identify for the proposed SUV, however what we will see appears to be like superior.
Taking the type of a two-door SUV much like a Jeep Wrangler or Land Rover Defender, the Volvo idea has a wedge-like nostril, a number of horizontal strains, an upright rear finish and a rear-mounted spare tire provider. The slim nostril has rectangular lights and an egg-crate grille much like that of the 200 Collection fashions that debuted in 1974, and the black trim piece operating alongside the physique aspect is like that of the 240 and different fashions. I particularly just like the segmented window glass, the squared-off wheel arches and the reverse rake of the rear glass.
Given the brief overhangs, brief wheelbase and tall floor clearance, it looks like this SUV would’ve had fairly nice off-road capabilities, no less than in comparison with all the pieces else Volvo was placing out on the time. Volvo has had a number of success with rally racing and its vehicles are identified for being absolute beasts within the snow, however the firm didn’t make a automotive with four-wheel drive till the 850 in 1996. Perhaps the dearth of an appropriate four-wheel-drive system and SUV chassis is among the causes this mannequin by no means got here to fruition.
