Volvo reveals SPA coupe concept

This is the Volvo Concept Coupe, the first design study from the manufacturer's latest styling chief, Thomas Ingenlath. Good, isn't it? 

But while Ingenlath, formerly of Volkswagen and Skoda, says it doffs its cap to the beautiful P1800 (the one Roger Moore drove in The Saint, remember?) Volvo also tells us it doesn't mean there will be a styling-led coupe in the company's near future.

What it does do is demonstrate the flexibility of the manufacturer's new Scaleable Product Architecture (SPA), a modular platform developed in-house that the Swedes claim will be even more flexible than VW's rather good MQB architecture.

It also shows off Ingenlath's new styling direction, which we'll see debut on the next XC90. So expect features that exemplify what he describes as "the powerful calmness of a lion", and "distinctive, surprising delight details" on the SUV when it lands next year...

So, what about the concept? Under the styling, there's a 400bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine with a turbo and supercharger driving the front axle, while the rear end has its own electric motor. Which all sounds very futurleand, but Volvo's told us it'll only supply 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines in its cars in future, either petrol or diesel and appended with forced induction, electric power, or both.

Inside, there's a hand-cut crystal gear lever, leather dash, woven carpets, and a big portrait touch-screen in the centre console, which replaces pretty much all of the buttons.

If you want Volvo to build it, tell them in the comments section below. We'll forward them on...