FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Volvo Concept You

Chinese-owned Volvo is on track to produce a BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class rival with the unveiling of its second luxury car concept in six months.

Revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Volvo Concept You is a sleek, coupe-style four door sedan that blends fine European craftsmanship with latest 'touch pad' technology, in a design that recalls one of the Swedish brand's most revered and attractive models, the P1800 coupe.

The concept car also marks a turning point for the Swedish brand, whose senior vice-president for research and development, Peter Mertens, stated the company's commitment to four-cylinder power. The company has plans to ditch its five, six and eight-cylinder powerplants in favour of highly efficient four-cylinder mills (which would be augmented with turbochargers or electric motors) for its entire range.

Mertens said that when the company's next generation large sedan reaches dealerships "in a few years" it will powered by frugal four-cylinder engines that are more potent than current six-cylinder powerplants.

Volvo says it responded to feedback since the unveiling of its Universe large car concept at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show in April while developing the latest design concept of its next large sedan.

"This car features a more daring, coupé -like profile than the Concept Universe, while the front moves towards a more classic Volvo look," explained Volvo Car Corporation's Vice President Design, Peter Horbury.

Since being bought by Chinese car maker Geely, Volvo has been planning to go more upmarket with its next executive sedan, in a bold move to compete head-on with German luxury rivals, specifically in the growing Chinese market.

"The fastback profile mirrors a strong trend among European buyers. With growing signs that Chinese 'taste buds' are moving rapidly in the same direction, our main aim is to explore how daring our next large sedan should be in order to be a global success," Horbury said.

Volvo has collaborated with a number of leading design brands including Swedish fashion house Oscar Jacobson and Denmark's Georg Jensen to deliver "first-class craftsmanship" for the bespoke interior. The four individual seats blend chrome-free leather from Bridge of Wear with Dinamica ecological suede, and there's also liberal use of handcrafted walnut, leather panels, suede roof lining and aluminium details.

Dupont supplied the light blue, liquid metal paint, while the ventilated disc brakes were developed by Volvo's racing specialists Polestar.

The car's swoopy silhouette is emphasized by 21-inch polished aluminium wheels with a twisted twin-spoke design "inspired by the exquisite works of world-famous Danish design house Georg Jensen".

Acknowledging the rise of iPads and iPhones, Volvo has also replaced the usual buttons and controls with smart pad technology to create an "uncluttered interior... that makes the owners manual a thing of the past".

These include a digital Driver Information Monitor (DIM), head-up windscreen display, and touchscreens in the centre console and between the rear seats. Even the wood/leather steering wheel with its aluminium and glass paddles has integrated touchscreens.

The centre console touchscreen incorporates a hidden infrared camera that registers eye movements, and will remain in sleep mode until the driver looks at it. Another sensor registers hand movements and triggers the Infotainment system's control mode.

"Certain functions, such as surfing the Web, are only accessible from the passenger side while the car is rolling. The technology knows who is the present operator and adapts itself automatically," Horbury said.