What's the news?

Volvo is currently hard at work reinventing itself as it seeks to double its current sales from around 400,000 cars a year to around 800,000. As with any car maker, crossovers and 4x4s are a key part of that expansion - they're the cars most people in most markets want most of all.

Volvo's XC range has been rather successful since the first V70 XC was introduced way back in 1997. The XC90 was then the first Volvo ever launched with a waiting list and the current XC60 is a highly-regarded car. So replacements for the current XC range (60, 70 and 90) are rather crucial, as is a need for Volvo's styling to further evolve and outpace the design studios of the other premium car makers.

Which is why Volvo is showing us this - the XC Coupé concept. It's not only a potential preview of an all-new XC model (most likely a low-slung XC50 to rival the likes of the BMW X1 and Audi Q3), but it's also a second glance at the way Volvos are going to look in the future - cleaner, but with bolder lines and bigger styling flourishes. It's proof, thankfully, that the gorgeous style of the Concept Coupé shown at the Frankfurt motor show back in September wasn't just a flash-in-the-pan for the show stage, but will really make it through to production.

Anything else?

Want to see more? Volvo has posted a short video of the XC Coupé on its YouTube channel and you can view it here: