Is this the first car in the world with a central glovebox?
Taking away the glovebox enables more knee space and better crash performance. And a central glovebox gives easy access to both driver and passenger.
With electric cars you have in theory an opportunity to get rid of the conventional HVAC and put it somewhere else, especially when it’s a flat battery floor. Normally the central part under the instrument panel Is occupied by mixing unit and major parts of the HVAC, but in the EX60 it looks like they got rid of some of it. Probably a lot is packaged on the passenger side of the IP.
That frees up space for the central glovebox with plenty of space for a handbag so it won’t be visible or in the way. Also, a shelf for papers or phones including hands-free charging is easily accessible through a gap when the glovebox is shut. Very clever new solution, it is – at least, I have not seen it before.
There are small smart storage dividers inside the glovebox.
The interior team consisted of Antti Vahtola (instrument panel and steering wheel), Zhuohang “Harry” Liao (doors), Mats Utterberg (luggage and in-car accessories), Todd Levy (seats and detailing), Eric Gunnarsson (tunnel and steering wheel), and Louise Temin Annermalm (design manager).
As usual, Volvo excels in storage solutions. Having worked in these areas myself during my time at Volvo, I know how important it is and what great people at Volvo you can bounce ideas with.
With a flat-floor architecture in an electric platform there are many possibilities if done right, but also challenges when not considered well from the beginning. Here it looks like smart solutions has been in focus from the start, which is great.
The cockpit area is a brilliant study in thoughtful interior design. Look how the various shapes with different materials flow in a calm and logical way, I really like it. The air vents are nicely hidden in the stack of forms so they don’t dominate the overall first read of the design as they normally do in other interiors.
Screens were always a thing that had to be built into their own housing in the Instrument panel to avoid sunshine disturbance and reflections. With today’s various coatings and screen technologies this is no longer needed. Main issue in today’s interiors is more about the reflections on the inside of windscreen and side windows from all tech and shiny stuff we add in the interiors. Even here the EX60 seems to be well performing.
The steering wheel has a new, clean design and for the first time with a non-circular shape in a Volvo. Nice that the airbag module is not dictating the shape as it is in many other designs. It’s a very functional and attractive design, without the usual fake-metal-looking details.
In general it’s a fresh step away from the conventions of shiny bling metallics which normally clutter other interiors. The use of textile, well curated plastic finishes and the ‘Weathered Grey Ash wood deco’ material gives a calm, Scandinavian look and feel.
