In-car luxury.
Indulge in Scandinavian luxury with the Ambience Concept. An immersive, multi-sensory experience which can bring Northern Lights, Scandinavian Forest, Swan Lake, Archipelago and Rain to the car ceiling.
Volvo S90 Ambience Concept; photo credit: volvocars.com
Based on Volvo’s top-of-the-line S90 Excellence three-seater executive sedan, the new Volvo S90 Ambience Concept created primarily for the China and unveiled at 2018 Beijing Auto Show is an industry-first sensory experience that synchronises visuals, sound and scent. How the new luxury concepts is reuniting these three domains?
The passengers can personalise the car’s atmosphere by using the intuitive smartphone app to choose one of seven visual themes synchronised with audio and scent.
“The Ambience Concept redefines luxury by taking it beyond material choices, creating a car that connects with your senses,” said Robin Page, head of design at Volvo Cars. “The design explores how people feel inside the car and enables them to influence their own mood and well-being.”
The visual element transforms the car ceiling according to the selected theme – including Northern Lights, Scandinavian Forest, Swan Lake, Archipelago and Rain – each providing a different mood scaling from relaxing to invigorating. There is also a Nocturnal theme for resting and Freedom gives a boost of fresh and uplifting energy.
The synchronised audio plays through the car’s Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system, which includes small tweeters in the headrest for an immersive sound experience. Each theme is matched with one of four bespoke scents, created by Byredo, which deploys simultaneously from a portal in the centre console.
“We’re known for our human-centric approach to design and as an industry leader in advanced safety technology,” Robin Page said. “Ambience reinforces this and shows our broader focus on human care, which starts with safety and also extends to general well-being.”
In 2017, Volvo sold more than 100,000 cars in China for the first time, which made a significant contribution to the company’s fourth consecutive year of record sales and growth. China is Volvo Cars’ largest single market and the company’s biggest marketplace for the S90 sedan.
