Chinese-market cars are legendarily all about the back seat, making Beijing the perfect show at which to flaunt a passenger-oriented interior. A year ago, Volvo showed us the XC90 with its Lounge Console Concept interior, a setup which deletes front passenger seat in favor of a desk and footrest for the right rear occupant. This year, they’ve just rolled out three seats, a floor, and a dash—sans surrounding automobile—in the form of the S90 Excellence interior concept.
The Chinese-owned Swedish automaker rolled out the little living space to both hint at the upcoming S90’s top-spec interior and once again remind us that its Lounge Console is a thing owners of chauffeur-driven vehicles might very much want. The rear seats feature a central control panel that runs the heated/cooled cupholder, the stereo, the all-important massage function, and the large screen that stands in place of a front seatback. The rear console also features a small fridge and carries a pair of hand-cut crystal Orrefors glasses.
Volvo claims the removal of the front seat brings an additional sense of space and light to the proceedings, thus providing “an immediate and extremely calming effect.” Which we get. We’re much calmer when there’s nobody in front of us in the IKEA checkout line. The console itself offers three basic functions. It can serve as a workstation, an entertainment center, or a relaxation device, complete with heated footrest.
Given the push Volvo’s given the Lounge Console over the past year, we wouldn’t be surprised to see it appear as an option on Chinese-market vehicles, but until Volvo carves out a significant slice of the U.S. livery market, we won’t be holding our breath for sales here.
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