9^th January, 2001

Adventure Concept Car (ACC): First-class SUV challenger

Volvo is preparing itself for the leap into the demanding and expansive SUV segment.

The Adventure Concept Car (ACC), being given its first showing at the International Motor Show in Detroit, is an indication of what is waiting around the corner.

"We want to show that we mean business when we say that we have what it takes to compete with the very best in the SUV segment," says Hans-Olov Olsson, president of Volvo Car Corporation.

It should be stressed that the Volvo ACC is not the car customers will see in dealer showrooms when Volvo’s first SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) is launched, an event that will take place within the next two years.

This concept car should instead be seen as a "thermometer", a tool for assessing the expectations and demands the market has when it comes to an SUV from Volvo.

"We are naturally hoping to create a solid commercial base for our introduction. It is therefore important to hear the views and comments of our customers while we still have time to make precision adjustments to the product," says Dieter Laxy, head of marketing, sales and service at Volvo.

The name "Adventure" emphasises the ability to be an integrated part of the owner’s lifestyle. During the time the Detroit Motor Show is open to the public, visitors will be able to make their views of the ACC known directly to Volvo’s SUV team via special computer monitors. At a later stage, Internet users all over the world will have the same chance to pass on their comments to the product developers.

Meeting market expectations
The Volvo ACC is based on five basic assumptions about the properties the market expects in an SUV from Volvo Cars.

• Driving characteristics on a par with those in a well-balanced car, when it comes to both road feedback and driving safety.
• First-class protection for all the occupants in an accident – without being unnecessarily aggressive to the other car in a collision. Tackling this classical SUV challenge is a matter of top priority at Volvo.
• Powerful, responsive engines combined with competitive fuel consumption and operational economy.
• Emissions on the same level as those of a normal car. The target is that this larger, heavier model will also comply with the US requirements for ULEV and ULEV II.
• Generous interior space without taking up too much room on the road. In a number of customer surveys, SUV customers mention "exactly the right size". Volvo Cars is aiming to find the format that attracts customers.

Four top-class seats
All these properties are reflected in the ACC’s design language. Like the Volvo S60, the ACC has what is known as a "cab forward" appearance; in other words, the driver’s area is at the very front. The front lines slope forward gently to create a muscular impression without making the car look aggressive.

"We are interested to see the kind of reception people give to a large Volvo. The target has been to find a design that is not as ‘macho’ as that of many other SUV models in the segment," said Peter Horbury, chief designer at Volvo.

"We prefer to talk about a masculine appearance, a design that creates a sense of security. This is important in view of the fact that many SUV buyers are women who like the feeling of safety and control."

Yet again, the design team draws parallels with a jet aircraft. In the ACC, the driver sits high up and well to the front, with good visibility outside the car and perfect control of the low-level instruments.