Volvo Cars has unveiled the S90 Ambience Concept, a car that connects with user's senses.
The company cliams that the industry-first sensory experience will synchronize visuals, sound and scent to redefine in-car luxury.
The S90 Ambience Concept, which will be debuted at the Beijing Auto Show in China, is based on Volvo’s top-of-the-line S90 Excellence three-seater executive sedan and focuses on chauffeured passengers in the rear seat.
Passengers can personalise the car’s atmosphere by using a smartphone app to choose between seven visual themes synchronised with audio and scent.
The visual element transforms the ceiling of the vehicle to the selected theme, including Northern Lights, Scandinavian Forest, Swan Lake, Archipelago and Rain, each offering a different mood and scaling ranging between relaxing and invigorating. There is a Nocturnal theme for resting and Freedom theme that claims to boost energy.
The synchronised audio plays through the car’s audio system for an immersive sound experience. The automaker has used Bowers and Wilkins sound system.
Each theme and sound is also matched with one of four scents, created by Byredo, which deploys simultaneously from a portal in the centre console.
Volvo Cars design head Robin Page said: “The Ambience Concept redefines luxury by taking it beyond material choices, creating a car that connects with your senses.
“The design explores how people feel inside the car and enables them to influence their own mood and well-being.”
Presently, S90 Ambience is only being launched as a concept, but the company has the ambition to make it available in S90 Excellence production cars, to enhance its Excellence offer, especially in China.
Last year, Volvo said that it sold more than 100,000 car in the country for the first time, which is claimed to have significantly added 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.
Volvo Cars’ Special Vehicles department senior commercial product manager Martin Andersson said: “The Ambience Concept was created primarily for the China market and provides a contrast to China’s sometimes hectic city environments.
“The S90 Ambience Concept will reinforce our premium brand values in this important region.”
