MORE THAN A PRETTY FACE
DESIGN NERD SAYS “VOLVO IS KILLING IT RIGHT NOW...”
AS I’M A DESIGNER, and something of a design nerd, I really struggle to tolerate certain things. For example: the use of Comic Sans, bad Photoshop in furniture catalogues, and poorly designed cars. Not only do these burn my retinas, they also slowly kill a small part of me.
At the other end of the spectrum, though, I greatly appreciate design that is well thought-out and elegant. This has resulted in a strong attraction towards early BMWs, which I find to be clean and restrained (unlike the brand’s modern efforts). To my eyes, the E30 M3 is a true stunner, though even now a well-kept 318i gets a long admiring gaze.
In contrast, Volvo’s offerings from the same era flew under my radar, mainly due to their boxier designs. Yes, there were several driving gems, but no early Volvo truly grabbed me.
Lately, however, the Swedish crew has been kicking some major design goals under the leadership of Thomas Ingenlath. Which is why I’m so enamoured with the V60.
I often catch myself stopping to admire its clean and crisp design. There’s a simple elegance to its form, and there’s a hint of aggression to its stance (especially in R-Design trim). Extending the wheelbase and minimising the front overhang compared to the previous V60 has done wonders for its proportions.
The detailing is nicely considered, too. The ‘Thor’s Hammer’ light signatures at the front and rear are both equally impressive and don’t only look great but provide an easily recognisable signature of the brand.
Initially the Light Birch colour of ‘my’ V60 left me uninspired given it’s pretty close to beige, but now I actually think it’s the shade I’d buy.
In the right light the metallic looks stunning and I’ve really come around to its mature nature. If I wanted to attract attention, I’d get a red VF Commodore sportswagon with an aftermarket exhaust. Weirdly, I find the Volvo much more visually appealing.
Good design is about more than how a car looks, of course. And again, Volvo is nailing it. The cabin aesthetic is clean and uncluttered with minimal buttons, yet this hasn’t compromised its functionality. It’s nice to look at and to use, with logically placed controls and beautiful materials. It’s obviously been carefully considered by fellow design nerds. I like that.