CAR-JENIUS

The all-new Volvo S40 introduces an entirely new approach to interior design – with a unique stand-alone free-floating centre stack. This is an entirely new solution in the car industry, specially developed for the new Volvo S40 and previewed recently in the Volvo VCC (Versatility Concept Car). When the time had come to fashion the interior of the Volvo S40, one of the challenges was that the occupants should enjoy a perception of space and airiness despite the compact body. This required new approaches and a decision was taken to tackle the design work from an entirely fresh angle. The design team turned their attention to other sources of inspiration than the car world. “If you want to be innovative, there is little point in looking at what the competition is doing. It is far more valuable to look at what they’re not doing,” says the head of design at Volvo Cars, Henrik Otto.
Influence from outside