Volvo Concept You tests reaction

An unconventional take on the traditional large luxury sedan sums up Volvo's Concept You. The car is a celebration of all things Scandanavian, from the polished timber floors to the Kasthall carpets, seat back fabrics designed by Oscar Jacobson to look like business suits, to the Georg Jensen-inspired wheel and grille details and Hasselblad camera on the back seat.

"Concept You gives a good indication of what you can expect from our next large sedan. The blend of contemporary Scandinavian design, exquisite craftsmanship and intuitive technology will appeal to luxury car buyers all over the world," Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby says.

The You is also a symbol of Volvo's renaissance: the takeover by Geely last year gave the company cash and conviction that is translating into a 21 per cent sales rise so far this year. The concept car is the successor to the Concept Universe sedan shown at this year's Shanghai Motor Show.

The fastback design is a popular look with all carmakers right now and the size and shape will have the Volvo lining up against Audi's A7 and the XJ Jaguar.

Volvo's vice-president of design, Peter Horbury says the Concept You's design language is indicative of future Volvo models says customer reaction will ultimately determine which of the two cars will make it into production.

"The fastback profile mirrors a strong trend among European buyers. With growing signs that Chinese "taste buds" are moving rapidly in the same direction, our main aim is to explore how daring our next large sedan should be in order to be a global success," he says.

Volvo has dared to be different on the inside, too. The hi-tech cockpit uses hand gestures, facial recognition and voice commands to navigate through the car's functions. "We use a number of touch-screens to replace buttons and controls in order to make the driver totally connected.

The technology also helps us to create a refreshingly uncluttered interior," Horbury says. The sound system was developed in association with Alpine and uses a "Fresh Air" subwoofer that weighs 1.4kg but has the performance of a conventional 15kg unit. The system also helps to contain the sound within the car.