Volvo has just done what a lot of automakers have shied away from: removing the front seat. Their newest concept, the XC90 Lounge Console, is the next step in luxury driving.
The car is meant for busy businessmen and women, who spend a lot of time working in their car. The front passenger seat has been removed in the Lounge to give passengers a place to not only relax between meetings, but also a comfortable area to work while traveling. In place of the front seat, the car is outfitted with a footrest, shoe drawer, vanity mirror, storage tray, tray table and a 17-inch monitor.
"People who are on the move and have a hectic lifestyle going from event to event or meeting to meeting need some space, some luxury time, and the opportunity to relax and refresh themselves for the next engagement. This is ultimately what the Lounge Console is designed to facilitate," said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Car Group.
Volvo already has a similar model that is specifically aimed at their “executive customers”: the XC90 Excellence. However, the automaker has been looking at different ways to streamline and maximize their offerings, so this concept would be a nice off-shoot that caters to the needs of people who want more than just a family hauler.
For now the Excellence and the Lounge Console are both targeted to Chinese customers, but if the model proves popular overseas, we may start seeing a few variations of the concept coming to the U.S. In the meantime, subscribe to our blog to get more updates on this newest luxury innovation.
