Frankfurt Motor Show 2013: Volvo Coupe breaks cover

Volvo has unveiled its Concept Coupe at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Inspired by the classic P1800, the coupe shows the design direction that Volvo will take under the guidance of its Chinese owners, Geely.

It’s unclear if the coupe will become a production reality, but it does hint at what the next generation of Volvos will look like, starting with the long overdue XC90, due in 2015, and the S80 replacement.

The short and squat Coupe concept features an upright grille and narrow headlights with t-shaped daytime running LEDs that will be a key design feature. It's fitted with 21-inch wheels that fill the flared wheelarches while the low swooping roofline echoes the P1800, although Volvo is keen to distance itself from the retro tag.

Inside, the concept has inlays made of naturally aged wood with dark blue woven carpets and machined metal detailing. But the real highlight is the handcrafted crystal gear lever which sits in front of large touch screen that interacts with an adaptive digital display and head-up display.

Power comes from a petrol plug-in hybrid system which combines a 305PS supercharged 2.0-litre turbo engine with an electric motor, producing 400PS with 600Nm of torque but with CO2 of just 50g/km. This unit is will be offered along with conventional petrol and diesels.

The concept is also being prepared for completely autonomous driving. The first feature will be autonomous steering to avoid accidents and make driving easier.